Jerome Rico Taylor

He only takes the best.God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be.So He put His arms around you and whispered, "Come with me."With tear-filled eyes we watched you fade away.Although we loved you deeply, we could not make you stay.A Golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands put to rest.God broke our hearts to prove to us He only takes the best.WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — Jerome Rico Taylor, 28, of White Sulphur Springs, formerly of Bluefield, passed away Saturday, September 29, 2007 at Dallas Medical Center in Dallas, Texas after a 14-month battle with Leukemia.Jerome was born April 21, 1979 in Mercer County. He was a 1997 graduate of Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va. Jerome attended WVU on a football scholarship in 1998 and played under Don Nehlen for two years. He then attended Midwestern State University in Texas where he received a full football scholarship. He was pursuing a degree in community health and social work lacking one semester before graduation. He continued his course work as long as possible during his illness while still maintaining a 4.0 average.He was preceded in death by his birth mother, Sharon Wolfe Taylor; grandfather, Herbert Wolfe; and an uncle, Keith Berry.Left to cherish his memory are very special cousins, Heather Pruett White, husband Lennie and children Kendra and Kerry of Tazewell, Va.; Danielle and Lauren Pruett and their mother "Aunt" Charlene Pruett of Bluefield. Va. The mother of his heart, Karen Winkfield of White Sulphur Springs; four brothers, Michael Taylor of Bluefield, Marcus Berry of Tampa, Fla., Matthew and Michael Winkfield both of Huntington and Douglas Wolfe of Green Valley; one sister, Monica Winkfield of White Sulphur Springs; grandparents, Kenny and Jackie Carter of White Sulphur Springs, Lorraine Wolfe of Rocky Gap, Va.; one niece, Alexus Taylor and two nephews, Ethan Berry and his namesake, Taylor Noel; his cousin, Reggie Fitzgerald of Bluefield, Va.; and a host of other family and many special friends here and in Texas. Services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6. 2007 at St. James United Methodist Church, White Sulphur Springs with the Rev. Nelson Staples and the Rev. Greg Scott officiating. Interment will follow in Greenhill Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs. Friends may call 6 to 8 p.m. Friday (today), Oct. 5, at Shanklin Funeral Home, White Sulphur Springs.Expressions of sympathy donations may be made to the Jerome Taylor Memorial Fund at First Citizens Bank, 1 E. Main St., White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986.Information submitted by Peery and St.Clair Funeral Home of Tazewell, Va.