Julia Barbara Taylor Wiley, a resident of Marietta, GA since 1951, died Sunday, January 27, 2019 at the age of 95.  She was a kind, beautiful lady who left behind a legacy of faith in Jesus and great determination.

Born July 4, 1923, in Lexington, SC, to Gertrude and Albert Talmadge Taylor, Sr., Julia always described herself as "a little bit independent."  She graduated from Lexington High School in 1940; and the following year, after a 10-day whirlwind courtship, she became the bride of Talmage Lamar Wiley, a native of Roswell, GA.  He was in Lexington on an assignment with J.B. McCrary Engineering Co. when he met Julia and was swept off his feet.  Their marriage was a happy one spanning 54years.

During WWII while her husband was in the US Army in the Philippines, Julia worked in the US Post Office in Roswell. That building still stands today.  While her beloved was overseas, Julia wrote him two letters every day. He said some soldiers rarely received mail, and he almost felt he should share his letters with them.

In 1951, Julia went to work for Life Insurance Co. of Georgia at the home office in downtown Atlanta, working there 35 years before retiring.  After retiring, Julia and Lamar enjoyed traveling, taking several trips "out west."  They also enjoyed camping and were members of the "Stay-Goners Travel and Trailer Club" in Marietta.  In later years Julia enjoyed NASCAR racing on TV and the company of her cat Thomas.

Julia made the world's best light, fluffy biscuits, which she was often requested to make by family, friends, and church groups.  She said there was not a secret ingredient, but we believe the secret ingredient was love.

She was baptized as an infant in St. Stephens Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lexington, SC.  She was currently a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Marietta, where she regularly served as a greeter on Sunday mornings. She also participated in the "Young at Heart" seniors group there and enjoyed being a volunteer in the soup kitchen at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta.

This little poem printed on the side of one of her favorite coffee mugs describes her well.

JULIA; LIGHTHEARTED
All those who know you
Cannot help but feel
That you have a buoyant
And youthful appeal.
You're so filled with energy
That what you do best
Are activities that demand
Vigor and zest.
You'll always be young
For your future must hold
A place for a heart
That will never grow old.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother Cdr. Albert Talmadge Taylor, Jr., USN, retired, and her sister Laurice Taylor Monteith.

Nana, as she was affectionately called, is survived by her son John David Wiley of Marietta; her daughter Diane Slover (Charles) of Signal Mountain, TN; granddaughters Sally Slover Coffey of Signal Mountain and Katie Slover Panou (Alex) of Whitby, Ontario, Canada; also by precious great grandchildren Lauren Elise Panou and Grant Alexander Panou.  Other survivors include nieces Laurie Monteith Wallace, Susan Wiley, and Mary Alice Kotarsky, as well as nephews Wayne Wiley and Kenneth Blackwell; great and great great nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 5 PM until 8 PM Friday evening February 1 at Marietta Funeral Home, 915 Piedmont Rd., Marietta, GA 30066.  The funeral service will be at 10:30 AM, Saturday, February 2 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2922 Sandy Plains Rd., Marietta, GA.  The Reverend Mark Beatty, senior pastor of Holy Trinity, will officiate.  Ms. Wiley will lie-in-state from 9:30 until 10:30 am at the church.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.mariettafuneralhome.org