CHARLES TAYLOR

Charles Grady Taylor Local businessman and civic leader, Charles Taylor, passed away peacefully with family at his side in Destin, Fl, November 26, 2011. Mr. Taylor was born on December 24, 1928 in Clanton, AL, to parents Bill and Eloise Taylor. Mr. Taylor grew up in Clanton, graduating from Chilton County High School, and later The University of Alabama. After college, he served in U.S. Air Force as an ATC at Moody AFB, GA. It is there he met his future wife of 59 years, Frances Jean Stewart, a student at the local college currently known as Valdosta State University. In his life in Dothan, along with raising six children with his wife Jean, Mr. Taylor was a successful businessman/entrepreneur who started, built, and ultimately sold, a network of successful companies that stretched from San Diego to Washington D.C. He served on the boards of many corporations, most notably that of SouthTrust of Dothan, N.A., and the holding company, SouthTrust Corporation. Mr. Taylor was also a tireless and dedicated civic leader in the wiregrass community. He is a former board member of the Houston-Love Memorial Library, The Girls Club, and the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Taylor was past president of The Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, The United Way, and a member of the Rotary Club. He was an original founder of Houston Academy and served on the board for many years and was active with the school until his death. Mr. Taylor was also involved in state as well as national politics, chairing locally, election campaigns for Senators John Sparkman and Howell Heflin, and the Presidential campaign of Texas Senator Lloyd Benson. One of his favorite hobbies was gardening, whether it be his year round vegetable garden or assisting with and opening his home to the Azalea-Dogwood Festival each spring. Also, he and his family were members of The First United Methodist Church in Dothan. Mr. Taylor, along with his recently deceased wife, Jean, spent the past twenty years residing in Destin, FL. Mr. Taylor is survived by five of his six children, Stewart Taylor, Jacksonville, FL, Cathy Howell, Orlando, Fl, Jan Lee, Dothan, AL, Pat White, Dothan, AL, and Randy Taylor, of Destin, FL. He is survived by eleven grandchildren, Will, Caroline, and Kristin Taylor, Jacksonville, FL, Jean and Katie Howell, Orlando, FL, Kelly Coleman, Destin, FL, Garrett Lee, Dothan/Tuscaloosa, AL. Taylor and Collins White, Dothan, AL, Chase and Christina Taylor, Biloxi, MS, and great-grandchild, Cash Taylor, of Biloxi, MS, and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Taylor was preceded in death by his wife, Jean, oldest son Charlie Taylor, Biloxi, MS, parents Bill and Eloise Taylor, Clanton, AL, sister, Ann Klinner, Clanton, AL. Mr. Taylor will be laid to rest at Memory Hill Cemetery with a graveside service to be held at 3:00 PM, on Wednesday, November 30, 2011, with Dr. Jim Sanders officiating. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home from 2 to 3 P.M. Wednesday, November 30, 2011. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to "In Christ's Name" in care of First United Methodist Church of Dothan, 1380 W. Main St, Dothan, AL 36301. Ward Wilson Memory Hill Funeral Home, Cemetery & Crematory, (334) 792-4194, is in charge of arrangements. Visit us at www.wardwilson.com. Sign the guest book at www.dothaneagle.com.