Deborah Belinda Taylor is renowned for being the first wife of the NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. Their relationship began in high school and flourished into their adult years. During their marriage, they became parents to three wonderful children.
Deborah, aka Linda Cooley, did not like the former football star when they first met. However, things changed between them. She has avoided the spotlight ever since her separation from Lawrence. Plus, it was she who filed for divorce.
Want to know more intriguing facts about the lady and her life with the retired athlete? Keep reading until the end.
Lawrence Taylor Shared A Good Bond With Deborah Belinda Taylor’s Parents
Deborah was born to her mother, Marva Cooley, and her father, Willis Cooley. The Cooley pair were quite fond of Lawrence. Marva formerly described him as a sweet, kind, and good-hearted person. She also added that she considered him her “son” and would never “forsake” or “stop loving him.”
Likewise, Willis also stated what Lawrence meant to him. Despite his daughter’s separation from the player, Mr. Cooley said he was “still a grandparent of his children.”
Deborah Belinda Taylor And Lawrence Taylor Were Highschool Sweethearts
Belinda and Lawrence tied the knot on June 19, 1982. They met during their time at Lafayette High School. Belinda recalled her first encounter with her former hubby with Sports Illustrated, saying,
When I first met him, I didn’t like him. I thought he was a bully. He feels he has to be this big, tough guy.
However, things changed as time progressed. Taylor had a “sweet side,” and many people told Belinda that her husband was nice.
While some might be aware of his addiction in the mid-1980s, they may not know the role his wifey played in his battle. It was only because of Deborah that the former linebacker entered rehabilitation in March 1986. That year, he led his team, the New York Giants, to a Super Bowl victory and won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Deborah Filed For Divorce
In 1989, the former Mrs. Taylor went to the Bergan County Superior Court and filed for separation from her husband. She charged him with extreme cruelty. According to her, Lawrence once appeared with another woman while she was dining with her family.
Additionally, while she was at the hospital giving birth to their third child, he showed up drunk. She even stated the instances of how her significant other’s drug use caused her sleeplessness, as she had to drive around searching for him in the streets.
Moreover, Deborah also opened up about her ex-spouse being rude and calling her names on several occasions. She further mentioned how he paid no heed to her attempts to save their relationship through counseling.
In addition, in her suit, she asked for an equitable distribution of their properties, child support, payment for her hubby’s goodwill, and pay for court costs and lawyers’ fees. Deborah stated during the trial,
Throughout his troubled times as a result of the drinking and drug problems, I was there when he needed me and tried my best to get him to get the help he needed. The defendant, however, never really appreciated the efforts I made in trying to straighten out his life.
It was a long battle for the two, as they got divorced in 1996. Following the separation, Lawrence had to pay $50,000 a year to Deborah and their children.
The Former Taylor Pair Had Three Children Together
The couple welcomed three kids, TJ, Tanisha, and Paula when they were together. The oldest, TJ, was born in 1982, the middle, Tanisha, in 1985, and the youngest, Paula, in 1986. When they were little, Lawrence used to play with his little ones, tossing them into the air.
Similarly, TJ described life with his father as an “extreme of everything” — “when things were good, they were extremely good, and when they were bad, they were extremely bad.” Besides, the eldest Taylor pleaded guilty to statutory rape and child molestation in 2015.
Nonetheless, all the Taylor kids have acknowledged their family trips were great.
Furthermore, the family lived in a $400,000 house with a $36,000 Mercedes and a $35,000 BMW. They enjoyed a fulfilled life. Following the divorce, Deborah got half of everything.
Lawrence Had Other Kids
The former player had a mistress, Wendy Robinson, with whom he had a son, Brandon, in 1991. Similarly, in the late 1990s, he had a girlfriend, Ebony Washington, and had a daughter, Erielle, with her.
In 1998, he was imprisoned for failing to pay the child support amount to Wendy. When asked about it, Lawrence said he believed the money would be automatically deducted from his earnings, a system that was discontinued after the last payment.
He was also taken to court by his baby mama, Ebony, to increase the child support amount from $450 to $650 per week.
Where Is Lawrence Taylor’s Ex-Wife, Deborah Belinda Taylor, Now?
Deborah has stayed out of the spotlight following her separation from the former athlete. As a result, her current whereabouts and whether she remarried remain unknown.
As for her husband, he has been married to Lynette Rose Gordon since July 7, 2007.
Prior to that, he shared marital vows with Maritza Cruz on November 28, 2001. Nonetheless, their marriage came to an end in 2005.