Wayne Taylor

Wayne G Taylor, 63, was born on August 7, 1960 to the late Captain Thomas G
Taylor (FDJC) and late Audrey Taylor, a retired nurse in Jersey City, NJ. He
peacefully transitioned with dignity and honor on March 18, 2024.
He was the youngest of three children. He lived a spirited and energetic young
life in Jersey City along with his siblings Charles & Adrienne, and his many aunts,
uncles, cousins, and friends close by. He attended and graduated from Lincoln
high school in 1978, where he was captain of his football team and was president
of his senior class. He served in the United States Army Reserves from 1979 to
1982. He took pride in being a serviceman for his country. He also attended St
Peters University where he received his bachelor of science degree.
In 1982, he followed in his father's footsteps and became the second generation
firefighter for Jersey City. During his 29-year career, he received over two dozen
different awards, citations, ribbons and medals from the fire department, the city,
and various other organizations, including the NAACP. Additionally, he was
honored with a media award from FIREHOUSE magazine for catching a woman
who jumped out of a third-floor window during a third alarm fire.
Wayne loved to cook for his family and explored new recipes that he learned
from his fellow firemen. He was a devoted sports fan. He especially loved
football, his favorite team, the New York Giants. He held a major gripe with the
Giants not being called New Jersey Giants since they played in New Jersey. As a
young child, he excelled in many sports including little league baseball. He also
played football for the undefeated champion Bergen Colts of the JC Recreation
League. His athletic prowess extended into high school with the addition of track
and field and fencing.
He was strong-willed at times, but he also had an enormous heart and wonderful
sense of humor. He had a distinctive and contagious laugh. He had an enormous
smile that lit up the room. His popularity was so well recognized that he was
called Mr. President in high school. He was very knowledgeable and resourceful.
Some of his other attributes were his generosity, loyalty, and bravery. His vast
knowledge and experience made it easy for him to mentor and motivate his new
and upcoming firemen. He was filled with so much pride of being a fireman, just
like his father. He loved sharing stories of fires with extraordinary vivid details
which transported you into those lived moments.
He always carried himself with dignity, strength, love and reverence for those
who went before him and those who stood by his side. He will be profoundly
missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, nephews and other family
and friends.
Gone but not forgotten, Wayne is preceded in death by his parents, Captain
Thomas G. Taylor and Audrey Taylor. He is survived by his wife of 36 years,
Adrienne Wallace-Taylor, one son, Battalion Chief Dwayne R. Taylor (FDJC) and
five daughters: Carla Taylor, Lauren Taylor, Brandy Fleming, Kimberly Taylor &
Tia Taylor; 10 grandchildren, Dareece Taylor, Morgan Fleming, Cameron,
Maranda Fleming, Tyce Taylor, Lyla, Mason Fleming, William, Ella Taylor &
Melody; two siblings, Dr. Charles Taylor and Adrienne Hall (Tony Hall).