Elizabeth Meade Taylor King
03/16/1946 - 12/29/2025
Elizabeth Meade (“Betty Meade”) Taylor King, age 79 passed away peacefully on Monday, December 29th at her residence. She was born on March 16, 1946, a daughter of the late Mary Frances Radcliffe Taylor and Robert Wyche Taylor. She was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Larry Alton King.
Betty Meade was most recently a member of Tabernacle Baptist Church in South Hill. She also served at Lacrosse United Methodist Church for many years. While her health allowed, she taught Sunday School and was an active choir member. She had a beautiful alto voice and was frequently requested to sing at churches throughout the region. She began each day with reading her Bible and daily devotion. She had many other hobbies including birding, playing bridge, gardening, and especially doing anything with her grandchildren.
She worked for many years in local grocery stores until eventually retiring on disability from the United States Postal Service. Betty Meade would say her greatest work was serving others. She was a volunteer for CMH Hospice and Project Care-For/Energy Share. She was known for her generous spirit and friendly smile.
She is survived by her two daughters, Laury Elizabeth King of LaCrosse and Karen K. Smiley (Eddie) of South Hill, her son Larry Wesson “Wes” King (April) of South Hill, her two grandsons, Dylan King of Chesterfield and Jackson Smiley of South Hill, two granddaughters, Miranda Moore and Madeline King of South Hill, a great grandson, Onyx Bowers of South Hill, a sister, Cynthia Taylor of Ft. Myers, FL, and a niece, Virginia “Gin” Sanders of Port Orange, FL, as well as many other loving family members, friends, and caregivers.
A memorial service will be held Sunday, January 4, 2026 at 4:00 P.M. at Crowder Hite Crews Funeral Home. Visitation with the family will begin at 2:30 P.M. until the hour of the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Tabernacle Baptist Church or to the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be sent through our website at www.crowderhitecrews.com. Crowder-Hite-Crews Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the King family.
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At Crowder-Hite-Crews we’ve always been proud to say that we are large enough to serve and small enough to care. When you choose us, we consider this a sacred trust between your family and ours. We offer a full range of funeral service, whether for a traditional funeral or cremation, and we are able to assist families worldwide. In February of 2004 we installed a crematorium to better serve our cremation families. We now do all cremations in our facility, saving transport to another location for this service. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about the cremation process.
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Condolences to Karen Smiley and Laurie King
So sorry for your loss. Prayers for you and your family.
From Gin
To my beloved Family Laury, Karen and Wes
I am so heartbroken to learn about the passing of your mom and my beloved aunt, Betty Meade. She was my best friend and oldest confidante, my sister and my surrogate mom, as well as my beloved aunt. I was a very young child when Betty Meade came to live with us when she was a teenager and she became like an older sister to me. Later after she moved back to Lawrenceville and met Larry King, they took me along with them on their date. I remember how they welcomed me on that night rather than treating me as a burdensome child. And from that time, I always felt welcomed by them. I remember visiting when each of you were born. Laury at the house in Lacrosse, Karen at their house in Petersburg and then with Wes at the house in South Hill, where he lives now with his family. I visited nearly every summer during my childhood years, after y’all were born at least. Betty Meade and Larry welcomed me into your family again my senior year of high school, allowing me to join your family as I struggled with my teenage angst. And later while I was attending Longwood, I would spend my weekends and breaks with all of you, my second family. Coming to visit you all in South Hill was coming home for me and always will be. Thank you, Betty Meade for giving me that welcome home for so many years. I love you with all my heart. I cherish all the wonderful memories we made together as friends and family. I will miss our visits, our long talks and just knowing that you’re there whenever I need you. Rest now my love. I take comfort knowing that you are now with your Heavenly Father, and all your beloved family who have gone before you and made a place for you. Now you can sing with the Angels with your beautiful voice. You’ve earned your place in the Heavenly Choir, along with Pop, and my mom, Micky, along with many others in our family with great musical talents. I am comforted to know that I will see you again. I can’t wait to hear you sing again. I love you forever my dear friend, sister, mother and aunt. Love Always, Gin
I am so sorry to learn of my beloved aunt, Betty Meade’s passing. She was not only my aunt, but also my dearest friend and confidante. Betty Meade lived with my family for a time when she was a teenager and I was a young child. She was like an older sister to me from that time on. Later, I spent many summer vacations with Betty Meade and Larry and their children. I remember being with them when each of their children were born. Laury, Karen and Wes became my younger brother and sisters, closer to me than cousins. Betty Meade and Larry welcomed me into their family again when I was a senior in high school becoming my surrogate parents for a time. They were a close part of my life. I remember a time when they were dating that they took me along. And they made me feel welcome even then rather than like I was a burdensome responsibility. That is how they always made me feel. Welcomed as part of the family. Those times spent in South Hill with Larry and Betty Meade and Laury and Karen and Wes are some of my happiest childhood, teenage and young adult memories. Going to South Hill to visit and spend time with the King family always felt like going home to me. I love you, Betty Meade my dear aunt, my sister, my surrogate mom, and my dearest friend. We had some great times together and made wonderful memories. I will cherish that time together along with such great memories. Rest now, my beloved aunt. You are finally at peace with your Heavenly Father, surrounded by Angels and all your beloved family that have gone on ahead and made a place for you in Heaven. I mourn your loss but I take comfort in knowing that I will see you again. Love Always, your niece and best friend, Gin
Wes,So sorry for your loss..just realized recently that my older brother and your Mom were friends in high school…prayers and condolences for your family…
Laury, Karen, & family,
So sorry for the loss of your mom. There’s nothing quite like losing your mama & there are no words that can make it better. Please know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Sending lots of love and hugs. Karen
So sorry to hear of Miss Betty’s passing. I enjoyed getting to know her at Clarksville Rehab. I enjoyed sharing meals with her. She was a sweet lady.
Cindy and the rest of the family,
I am so sorry to learn of Betty Meade’s passing. Her sister, Micky, was a high school friend of mine when Betty Meade and Cindy were born. We would take them with us to the drug store after school when Mary Frances was playing bridge.
I always enjoyed seeing her when I would go to visit at Pine View.
Much love to the family,
Evelyn
Condolences
We are so sorry to hear of you mom’s passing. She was the sweetest lady and always loved seeing and talking to her. I met her at the La Crosse Commerce building around 2000. She left an impression on me that has lasted since. My heart goes out to you. Sending love and prayers.
Friend & Brunswick High Classmate
I am very sorry and saddened to hear about Betty Meade’s passing. She was a very close friend of my sister Susan and mine. She was full of life, fun, knowledge , kindness and thoughtfulness. She had many friends in Lawrenceville where we attended Brunswick High School. We had many interests and our love of music, dancing and fine young men brought us to meet new friends at Park View who lived in South Hill and LaCrosse. Larry King became a good friend and spent many happy years with Betty Meade. My grandmother , Sue Lewis always shopped in Lawrenceville until Betty Meade was employed by Harris Teeter. in South Hill. Of course she switched to Harris Teeter because Betty Meade’s priority was excellent customer service. Also, when my mom, Sue Randolph Meredith had Cancer, Betty Meade would drive to the farm south of Brodnax to spend quality time with her. As my brother Bolling said , when he called to say that Betty Meade had passed, “she was a very sweet, kind person.” She will be missed and remembered.