Georgia Taylor Benedict
November 6, 1949 - January 5, 2021 Benicia, CA
Georgia Taylor Benedict passed away on January 5 after a heroic battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born in San Diego, CA to Virginia and Wayne Taylor on November 6, 1949. Georgia received her bachelor’s degree in theatre from CSU Fullerton, graduating with honors, after which she attended Temple University in Philadelphia in the MFA theatre program. She returned to Orange County before she and her husband, Mark Haselfeld, moved to Benicia in 1981.
Since the 1980’s Georgia worked as a territory manager and sales representative in the wholesale office products industry, spending the last 11 years as a regional representative for office supplies wholesaler Pens, Etc. based in Chandler, Arizona. Many of her customers became lifelong friends.
Georgia loved theater and working in it. She appeared in several productions for the Benicia Old Town Theatre in the 1980’s. She also stage-managed at several other Bay Area theatres, including many shows for Contra Costa Musical Theatre, Diablo Light Opera Company, and Contra Costa Civic Theatre. In addition, she house-managed at the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek.
Georgia was very active with Solano County Friends of Animals. She and Mark took care of many homeless cats in her neighborhood, including trapping, spaying and neutering, and returning a large number of her feline friends. She fostered many kittens and made sure they were adopted into good homes.
Georgia made friends everywhere. She always gave unconditional love and support to her friends. She was always ready to take a trip to the City to visit a museum or meet up for the new adventure. She loved traveling; Maui and Sequoia were two of her favorite places.
Georgia is survived by her husband of 35 years, Mark Haselfeld; her three sisters, Sandra Hendrickson, Marsha Hildebrand, and Anita Nikiforuk; as well as nieces and nephews and her beloved godson, Anthony Pruitt. Georgia’s parents, Wayne and Virginia Taylor, preceded her in death.
She leaves behind innumerable friends who will miss her kindness and vivacious love of life.
Mark would like to extend thanks to Kaiser hospice and her three close friends who were also with her in her last days.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Solano County Friends of Animals (https://scfoarescue. org/donate/) and/or Contra Costa Civic Theatre (https:// ccct.org/donate/). We anticipate a celebration of Georgia’s life as soon as it becomes feasible.