Due to circumstances outside my control Gaylor's obituary was not published in a newspaper in its original form. As she sat on my shoulder, whispered into my ear what she wanted me to write, and snickered as I did so, I was and continue to be sadden by that fact. So, today I put it out into the world beyond Facebook.
Gaylor was born September 16, 1952 in Durham where she lived until she left for college. She often spoke of her joyous childhood adventures with her family in Bethania; she was especially fond of her Uncle Joe. In 1970, she moved to Greensboro to attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro where she was a member of the first class of the Residential College, now the Warren Ashby Residential College, a fact of which she was particularly proud. Gaylor earned a BA (‘74, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) and MA (‘77) in English as well as a Masters in Library and Information Science (‘90) at UNCG. She also did doctoral work in English at Duke University.
The majority of Gaylor’s career was spent tracking down esoteric academic research materials for the faculty and students of her alma mater as Borrower and Manager of Interlibrary Loan in Jackson Library. She was often described as brilliant, not only for her abilities, but in her exquisite turn of phrase and delicious sense of humor. In response to such compliments she would shrug her shoulders and reply, “I live to serve.”
In addition to sleuthing full-time at UNCG, Gaylor often took on additional work writing, editing, teaching, or book selling. She taught at Elon University, Guilford Technical Community College, Guilford College, and UNCG - where she ran the Residential College’s Writing Clinic for several years as a volunteer. She was a masterful bookseller at Atticus Books until it closed.
Gaylor was a loving parent to many cats and dogs throughout her life. She treasured her Monday Night Meditation Group. She was an avid reader, lover of music and art, enthusiastic movie-goer, and dedicated Duke basketball fan. She enjoyed Seinfeld, apple pie, and beer. She loved her friends fiercely and we miss her in the same manner.
Gaylor was preceded in death by her mother, Elaine Spainhour Stroupe Callahan and her sister, Patricia Callahan; she is survived by her cousins, Molly Leinbach, of Bethania, NC and David Conrad of Nashville, TN. A memorial service will be held September 21st at 3 pm in the Alumni House at UNCG. The service will continue in Mary Foust Hall, home of the Warren Ashby Residential College. Her family is planning a graveside service to be held at Bethania Moravian Church in the near future. Memorial donations may be made to Ashby Residential College, 122 Mary Foust Residence Hall, UNCG Greensboro, NC 27102.
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