WOOD, N.C. – Pauline Estelle Gupton Taylor, of Wood, passed away peacefully on Thursday July 23, 2009 at The Fountains at Albemarle in Tarboro, NC, where she had been a resident since December 2007.  She was 91.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm Monday, July 27, at Wood Baptist Church. Burial will follow at the old Wood Church cemetery.  Visitation will be held Sunday evening, July 26, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Strickland Funeral Home in Louisburg and family will receive friends following the burial.

Pauline was born in Franklin County on April 4, 1918. The oldest of Mamie Pearce Gupton and Thomas “Tommy” Marion Gupton’s six children, she graduated from Gold Sand High School where she played on the girls’ basketball team. She went on to earn her bookkeeping degree from King’s Business College in Raleigh, NC and spent her career as bookkeeper and office manager for T. R. Wollette Lumber Company in Red Oak, NC, from which she retired after over forty years of service.

In addition to her professional career, Pauline was an active community member. As an engaged member of Wood Baptist Church, she not only taught Sunday School classes, but served on the board, was longstanding treasurer and was leader of the Girls’ Auxiliary.  She also served as leader of the Franklin County Chapter of the 4-H Clubs of America, was an active member of the Gold Sand PTA and served as chaperone for the Gold Sand High School girls’ basketball team 1964-1968.  She was also a strong believer in the responsibility of citizens to vote and was a longtime election-day poll worker for Franklin County’s Centerville district. With a dedicated commitment to family and community, she founded and organized the All Gupton Reunion that has been held every August at Wood Baptist Church since its conception several decades ago. In addition to her formal volunteer activities and community service, Pauline was a tireless supporter of young people and served as mentor and chauffeur to many of the youth in Wood during their formative years. She not only loved and enjoyed being around children and young people, she loved animals – especially her various dogs over the years. In her retirement, she remained active in the church and community as well as growing and selling plants and flowers in her greenhouses. She was an avid gardener and loved working in the outdoors.

Pauline was preceded in death by her parents and her five siblings. She is survived by her niece, Tony Gupton LeTrent-Jones of Greensboro, NC, and her nephew, Karl L. Shearin of Virginia Beach, VA, as well as numerous cousins.

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers of The Fountains at Albemarle for their excellent, respectful and compassionate care during her residency there and to Community Home Care and Hospice in Tarboro for their support and assistance with her end-of-life care and comfort.

Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home in Louisburg, NC.

Paid Obituary