Mr. Benjamin "BJ Bear" Taylor

Benjamin "B.J." Taylor was born October 16, 1931, in Marvell, Arkansas, to Shedric and Sarah Hall Taylor, the youngest of their children. Raised in a devout Christian home, he accepted Christ at an early age and remained a faithful servant throughout his life. Educated in the Marvell public schools, B.J. was a self made, humble man who began working immediately after school to provide for his family. His industrious spirit led him first to farming in Marvell, then to positions with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Helena, Arkansas, and later with the Chicago Mill Company, before he devoted his later years to serving as a foster grandparent at J.F. Wahl Elementary School.
A true country gentleman, B.J. cultivated beautiful gardens, raised hogs, and embraced the rhythms of rural life. He served faithfully for many years as a deacon of New Hope Coffee Creek Missionary Baptist Church, where his quiet strength and gentle wisdom blessed all who knew him. In his youth, he famously rode a horse to court the love of his life, Cremolia Scott. They married and shared over fifty years of devoted companionship before her passing.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cremolia; his parents; daughter Frances Taylor Young; grandsons Marcus Demond Taylor and Levon Sales Jr.; granddaughter Ashandle Paige; and siblings Vegiele Taylor, L.T. Taylor, Lee Henry Taylor, Nemiah Taylor, and Charles Taylor. B.J. passed away peacefully at his home in Marvell on July 10, 2025, at 7:45 p.m.
He leaves to cherish his memory eight children-Johnny (Izetta) Scott of Little Rock, Arkansas; Patricia Taylor Paige of Kalamazoo, Michigan; Brenda (Wallace) Ewing of Poplar Grove, Arkansas; Douglas (Kathy) Taylor of Little Rock, Arkansas; Wanda Taylor Millbrooks of St. Louis, Missouri; Calvin (Cynthia) Taylor of San Marcos, Texas; Sharon Frazier of Forrest City, Arkansas; and Charlotte Taylor (Fayzell) Mosley of Houston, Texas; nineteen grandchildren; twenty five great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; grandchildren Ardell Farr Jr. and Cortez Gould; special cousins Robert and Betty Gibson of Chicago, Illinois; special nephews and niece Chris Taylor, Ezzard Charles Taylor, Chris Taylor, and Vivian Stewart; and a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins, and devoted friends.
B.J.'s legacy of faith, hard work, and love of family will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed by his presence.