Denise Taylor

Denise Taylor, 64, passed away at her residence in Boston, MA on December 11, 2020 of natural causes. 

Denise, affectionately known to her family as “Teece”, was born in Boston, MA on June 27, 1956, and raised in Boston and Milton, MA.  She was a graduate of the Milton High School’s Class of 1974, and received her BA in Business Management Administration from American InterContinental University on August 8, 2015, at the ripe young age of 59. She retired as an Administrative Assistant from the U.S. Department of Labor Employee Benefit Security Administration in 2018, after 26 years of dedicated service.  Diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 5, Denise faced many obstacles and hardships her entire life; but she never once let epilepsy define who she was. 

Denise’s first love was music, and she was a very gifted world class piano and organ player.  She began playing the piano and organ at the age of five.  She was adept at reading, writing, teaching, and playing all kinds of music; but her true passion was in gospel music and playing for our Lord, and Savior Jesus Christ.  Denise was a member of Bethlehem Healing Temple of the Apostolic Faith Church in Boston, MA for almost fifty years, where she served as the Music Director and Sunday School Teacher.  

Denise’s second love was the children of Bethlehem Healing Temple. More than two decades ago, Denise established the Bethlehem Healing Temple Clothe-the-Children Back-to-School Program, and the Bethlehem Healing Temple Christmas Program, two special events that take place every year in August and December.  Donations from Denise, various Department of Labor agencies, and other caring philanthropists throughout New England enabled her to purchase clothing, toiletries, and school supplies for many underprivileged young people in the Boston area.  In addition, the August event included a summer outing to an amusement park, on a privately chartered bus. You can see her story on past Boston Neighborhood News (BNN) Interviews Denise Taylor with Joe Roeland and find her in the Boston Herald archives with 4 articles written by Peter Gelzin.  Denise has received many accolades for her community volunteer work, including the Exceptional Volunteer Service Award from the Department of Labor.

Denise also enjoyed writing poetry, and often wrote poetry describing the various issues that society faces in our day-to-day lives.  Denise was actively involved in the Epilepsy Foundation of New England.  The Epilepsy Foundation assisted Denise in obtaining employment with the Department of Labor.  Over the past several years, Denise has performed her piano, organ, and singing talents at various Epilepsy Foundation events, demonstrating that individuals with epilepsy can live a full and productive life. 

Denise is survived by her siblings, Ralph Taylor, Debra Taylor, Joan Taylor, Glenn Taylor (Benigna), Ron Taylor, Linda Taylor, John Taylor, and James Taylor, Jr. (Lucille), and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Delores Barnett Taylor and James Taylor, and her siblings Jeffrey Johnson and Gloria Taylor.

A private memorial service was followed by burial at Milton Cemetery, 211 Centre Street, Milton, MA 02186.  In lieu of flowers, the family recommends that donations be made in her memory to the Epilepsy Foundation of New England https://epilepsynewengland.org/

Post COVID-19 and at the convenience of the family, there will be a celebration of her life so that all her many friends and family can attend.