Carolyn Taylor Looper

View Video Tribute View Funeral Webcast Carolyn Jean Taylor Looper, 80, former long-time resident of Graymere Manor Road, died Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at NHC Hillview. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Pleasant Heights Baptist Church with Rev. Bob Vassar and Rev. Robert E. "Jody" Gamble officiating. Burial will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens. The family will visit with friends Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols and Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to service time at the church. The family suggests memorials to Maury Baptist Association, 1521 Williamsport Pike, Columbia 38401, Women's Missionary Union, c/o Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, 2412 Trotwood Avenue, Columbia 38401, Maury County Christmas Card Program, P. O. Box 1425, Columbia 38401-0800. Notes of condolence may be extended at oakesandnichols.com. Born in Clinton County, Missouri, she was the daughter of the late J. W. Taylor and Carrie Norris Albert and a graduate of Berkley High School in Berkley, California. She married Billy Gray Looper January 7, 1951. Their forty-eight year marriage ended with his death June 2, 1999. After moving with her family to Columbia in 1955, Mrs. Looper became involved in numerous civic and community activities. She was instrumental in organizing The Good Samaritans of Columbia, served as Director of the Maury County Community Christmas Card Program; was a member of Jane Knox Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, First Families of Tennessee, James K. Polk Memorial Association, and Mule Town Rookies Card Club. In 1999, she and Mr. Looper were honored with the Lucille Queener Courtney Community Service Award for their contributions to the betterment of Maury County. A faithful member of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, she was a member and served as Director of the South Central Region of the Women's Missionary Union. She also taught adult and children's Sunday School Classes, directed the Vacation Bible School for thirty years, and was active in the Maury Baptist Association and Tennessee Baptist Convention. Mr. & Mrs. Looper were devoted to their church and especially benevolent to mission work. Additionally, they traveled the world to support missionaries and offer aid first-hand. A loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother she is survived by her children, Michael Roy (Deborah) Looper, Cynthia Claire Kollstedt, and Martha Berdette (Steve) Meservy, all of Columbia; brother, Robert W. "Bob" (Jeannie) Taylor of Liberty, Missouri; grandchildren, James Gray Hinshaw, Julie Hinshaw (Christian) Collazos, Michael Roy (Candace) Looper, II, Crystal Looper (Zachary) Bowman, Christina Margaret Kollstedt, Jennifer Kollstedt (Chris) Dungan, Kari Elizabeth Meservy, and Kadi Meservy (Dacon) Fitzgerald; great-grandchildren, Seth Gray Sands, Jazmyn Sands, Hunter Diaz, McKenzie Looper, Hayden Looper, and Jacob Dungan; sons-in-law, Henry Hartman, III of Naples, Florida and Dan Kollstedt of Columbia; several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Carol Hartman, great-grandchild, Savannah Carlyanne Sands, and brothers, William V. Taylor and Forrest S. Taylor. Active pallbearers are Bill Tubville, Dean Smith, David Graves, Dan Kollstedt, Frank Varnado, and Maples "Junior" Pylant. Honorary pallbearers include Rev. J. B. Miller, Calvin Morris, Duane Tindall, Robert E. "Jody" Gamble, Joy and Bill Courter, Billy Andrews, Frances and U. V. Waldrop, Deacons of Pleasant Heights Baptist Church, and Mule Town Rookies. The family wishes to express appreciation to the staff of NHC Hillview and her private sitters for their kindness and care during her illness.