Pearlie Taite

Pearlie Mae Taite was born October 24, 1945, to Curtis and Rosie Mae Smiley. She transitioned peacefully into the arms of our heavenly father on January 30, 2021 after a short illness.

Pearlie grew up in Mobile, AL, and graduated from Central High School in 1965, where she was known for winning dance contests with her brother, Johnny. After high school, she joined the Job Corps, continuing her education in Marquette, MI.

Upon moving to Akron, OH, she became a faithful member of Friendship Apostolic Church, where her membership remained until her transition. Pearlie was a mighty woman of God, with a strong faith in and relationship with the Lord. She prayed and read her Bible daily.

In 1969, she married Baldwin B. Taite, Sr. This 25-year union was blessed with two children, Baldwin Jr., and Beverly. Pearlie often said she was put on this earth to be a mother, and she did it well. She was actively involved in the PTA at her children’s elementary school. She was also very supportive of their every activity—big and small.

With a heart for helping others, Pearlie returned to the workforce as a home health aide, working for several home health agencies before retiring early, due to illness.

Pearlie loved music—gospel, jazz, and Motown. She loved the Hallmark Channel for The Golden Girls and the holiday movies. She enjoyed watching mixed martial arts and old movies with Baldwin, Jr., and ‘80s sitcoms with Beverly. She also took great joy in having a house full of family and friends on holidays, enjoying one another and taking a plate of her food home with them Pearlie spent the last few years of her life in Columbus, OH, with Baldwin and Beverly, caring for her and loving her. Spending each day with her children brought her the greatest joy. Mental health, dementia, and arthritis were no match for her strength and fighting spirit. She stayed on the battlefield until Father God called her home.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Baldwin B. Taite, Sr.; parents, Curtis and Rosie Mae Smiley; bonus mother, Mamie Robinson; brothers, Robert Campbell, Johnny Smiley, William Roberts, and Thomas Roberts; sister, Gladys Henderson; best friend, Jaqueline Jones; and special son, Charles “Chuck” N. Lewis.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Baldwin B. Taite, Jr., and daughter, Beverly Antoinette Taite; sister, Beverly Lewis (Adamsville, AL); brother, James Smiley (Mobile, AL); best friends, Nellie Jones and Clarney Barbara Nash, both of Akron, OH; special daughters, Dana (Charles) Johnson, Jr. (Columbus, OH) and Sherri Wolfe (Oklahoma City, OK); special son, Lawrence (Heather) Cobb (Akron, OH); and special grandchildren, Joshua Lee Gurley, Trishia Lynn Gurley, Laraesha Cobb, Gabrielle Jeané Johnson, and Devin Joshua Woods.

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