Barbara Taylor Scruggs Obituary

Barbara Taylor Scruggs, age 75, died peacefully at her Laurel Park, North Carolina, home on February 25, 2025, surrounded by her immediate family. She was diagnosed in mid-2023 with a neurological disease and made the best of each day thereafter.

Barbara was born in Greenville, North Carolina, to the late James Athel Taylor and Evelyn Grayson Taylor, both of Western North Carolina. Barbara graduated from the Virginia Tech School of Design and worked for the Chapel Hill architectural firm of Cogswell-Hausler, where she discovered her true calling as an entrepreneur.

In her mid-20s, she moved to Washington, DC, and formed her own company - Washington Associates. She leased three floors in an office building on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House and renovated the space into the then-unknown concept of private executive offices with common meeting rooms and amenities. This concept was highly successful and spawned many imitators across the country. After more than a decade operating Washington Associates, she sold the business and devoted herself to charity work involving underprivileged children and animal welfare.

Barbara leaves behind her husband of 25 years, John P. Scruggs; nephew James Edgar Taylor (Jamie) of Covington, LA; beloved dog SugarBear; and former husbands Anthony di Santi and Norman Westerbuhr, who both remained her good friends.

Barbara requested no service be held. Please direct any memorials to an animal welfare organization of your choice.