About Me

My name is Shirley Haywood Taylor, and I live in a small town in the vicinity of Charlotte, NC.  I was born in Charlotte (so many years ago) but moved down to the coast when I was 14 years old.  I went to New Hanover High School in Wilmington, NC, got married and eventually moved to Florida. I lived in the Ft. Lauderdale vicinity for over 40 years, visiting my family on the NC coast when I could. My husband and I had a cabin in Highlands, NC for years.

I have passed through many incarnations.  I was a church musician, organist, choir director, and taught piano for many years. Then came my artist years. I painted in oils and watercolors and participated in many outdoor shows and exhibitions in the Ft. Lauderdale area. My husband did all my matting, glass work, and framing and helped with my shows. When he passed on, I seemed to lose interest in the painting field.  So I turned to crafting and jewelry making, and silk flower weddings and planning. A friend and I had a business in Ft. Lauderdale for many years. My last employment was with one of the major electronics firms in the world, who specialized in search and rescue equipment. I was in charge of our European customers, handling Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. My head was in Europe all day (where I would have loved to have been,) and it was extremely interesting work.  But it finally came time for me to retire, and I headed back to where I had started from.

Sometime after my husband died, I became fascinated with genealogy, beginning about 1995. While I was working I couldn't apply much time to it, but after I retired and moved back to my roots, I have exhilarated in my research.  I attend every meeting, class or seminar that comes along.  And I have contributed much to my tree.  More than just the dry facts (read Pedigree Chart,)  I love to find the stories, and bring them alive.

I now have the time to apply to it, and as anyone who does genealogy knows, if you do it – you will become obsessed with it.  I readily admit that I am a GENEALOGY ADDICT. 

My other current interests include making jewelry,  organic vegetable gardening (anyone need a turnip!), and travel, European and domestic.  J'aime tout français.