illness

By Jaine Treadwell Features Editor

God is a whole lot richer today because Jack Taylor is there with Him

"And, you can quote me on that," said the Rev. Richard Holmes, pastor of Brundidge United Methodist Church and close friend of Jack Taylor who died May 21, 2003 after a long illness.

"Jack Taylor was a good friend, and I do mean a good friend," Holmes said. "He was a friend to everyone. I never heard anyone say a negative word about Jack. He was dedicated to people. In his own quiet way he was always focused and oriented to people."

Taylor was as dedicated to his community as he was to its people, Holmes said. "He worked tirelessly to make Brundidge a better place to live and to work."

Holmes said Taylor was also a friend to the church.

"Jack made sure that the church came first in his life," he said. "The church was a must in Jack's life. If there was a need in the church - and it didn't matter what it was — he would pull out his checkbook even if I didn't ask. He and Kate put God first and the church represents God."

Holmes said even when Taylor was very sick, he still wanted to be a part of his church and his Sunday school class.

"Some Sundays he would slip in the back door and fix a pot of coffee for his Sunday school class, Holmes said. "He wouldn't feel like staying, so he would slip back out and go home a go to bed. But, he wanted to be a part of the class and he wanted to do what he could. That was part of his witness. The community will miss Jack. The church will miss Jack. His family and friends will miss him and I'm going to miss my buddy. You could write volumes on Jack. He was that kind of man - that kind of friend."

Britt Thomas, Brundidge city manager, said Taylor became the contractor for the city's electrical distribution system in 1979 and worked tirelessly to make sure that the citizens' electrical needs were met.

"Jack worked extremely hard for Brundidge," Thomas said. "He did so many good things for Brundidge that people didn't know about and won't know about. I have lost a good friend, for sure, and the community has lost a good friend."

Taylor was also a community servant. He served on the Brundidge Industrial Development Board for 25 years and was chairman of the board for a number of years.

The Brundidge Business Association recognized the many contributions Taylor and his wife, Kate, have made to the community by naming them the 2002 Man and Woman of the Year.

"Jack was a good worker for the city of Brundidge," said Lamar Steed, board member and president of the Brundidge Business Association. "The whole ID Board and every member of the BBA thought he was a very special person. He was dedicated to his work and he was dedicated to the people of Brundidge and Pike County. He was always willing and ready to do what he could for the community - as a person and as a board member. Everyone who knew him will miss him. He was a good friend to all of us."

Before Taylor became the contractor of the Brundidge electrical distribution system, he worked at South Alabama Electric Cooperative.

Services for Taylor will be at 11 am. Saturday at Brundidge United Methodist Church. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight at Dillard Jackson Bryan Funeral Home in Brundidge.