William Emerson Taylor

William (Bill) Emerson Taylor was born on June 16th, 1955 to parents William Forrest Taylor and Katie Towsend Taylor in Talladega Springs, Alabama. William received his education in Knoxville, Tennessee at Austin East. After receiving his education he began working in his career at Avondale in Sylacauga, Alabama. During life's journey William met his ex-wife of 26 years, Darcenia (Dee) Taylor, and brought two children into this world: Jakina Nicole Taylor-July and DaMarcus Wesley Taylor. William departed this walk of life on February 6, 2026. Surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and special friend Tammy Kincannon. William's love for people never allowed him to meet a stranger. He was everyone's papaw, everyone's uncle Bill, and everyone's friend. To know his truly was to love him. Admired by his kindness, infectious laugh, and funny spirit. Above all else, he carried a deep and abiding love for his mother, Katie Taylor. She was his safeplace, his first teacher, and his lifelong source of comfort and strength. Their bond was one of mutual admiration and enduring affection, a testament to the power of family and the grace of a son who never outgrew his love for his mother.

Preceded in death by: His father, William Forrest Taylor, his grandson DeAndre' Martice Allen, granddaughter, A'moura Delonta Bolden, brother, Tony V. Taylor, his sister, Phyllis Mitchell, and grandparents Henry Taylor, Mary Taylor, Octavia (Mommie) Townsend, and John Wesley Townsend..

He is survived by: his wife Sabrina Taylor (Christin Branch, Lamar Branch) and grandson Kaiden Branch, the mother of his children Darcenia (Dee) Taylor, children Jakina (Wakil) July of Vidalia, GA and DaMarcus (Heather) Taylor of Madisonville, TN, siblings, Belinda Bryant of Childersburg, AL, Terrence (Sherrie) Taylor of Toledo, OH, Bernard Taylor of Childersburg, AL, Terry Taylor of Gasden, AL, Sherry (Curtis) Swain of Childersburg, AL, Sherron (Eric) Mabry of Childersburg, AL, Barbara (Purnell) Kagler of Temple, TX, Kimberly (Kenneth) Woods of North Platte, NE, Latrina (Kimani) White of Sylacauga, AL, Michael Mitchell of Oak Ridge, TN, grandchildren, Kira Taylor, Keeona Taylor, Cheyenne Runnion, Jakara Bolden, DaMarian Taylor, and Jatasia Bolden, great grandchildren, KeiAndre' Taylor, Malcolm Taylor- Davis, Jaskiya Bolden, Ja'Nylah Martin, and Journi Martin. He also leaves behind a great host of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, and a cousins who will miss him dearly.

Affectionate names he is remembered by: Papaw, Papaw Billy, BT, BT Express, Sweet Chocolate, and last but not least Big Pimpin'. Forever rolling with the tide… "Roll Tide Roll"... Special thanks to Biereley-Hale Funeral Home, Donna's Cafe for catering, and Rice Chapel A.M.E Zion Church Madisonville, TN.

Homegoing service will be held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Biereley-Hale Funeral Home (4650 US-411, Madisonville, TN 37354). Visitation will be held from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM, followed by the funeral service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Burial will take place immediately after at Park City Cemetery, Madisonville, TN.

She is ninety-one, hands thin with years, eyes full of memories she never meant to carry alone. He was her first born when her hair was dark and the world still felt wide open. The boy who taught her how to be a "Mama". Seventy-one years she loved him. Through scraped knees and grown-man worries, through seasons where she watched him age while she quietly kept going. She buried a child who had lived a lifetime. A son who had laughed, worked, loved and still to her, was always her baby. The world says he lived a good, long life. Her heart says, it was never long enough. She remembers the first cry, and now the last goodbye, both held in the same trembling breath. Time took much from her friends, strength, pieces of herself, but it never took her love for him, not once. Now she walks slower, carrying grief older than most people live to see, missing a voice she has heard for more than seven decades. She will go on, because mothers do. But part of her remains with the son who made her one. At ninety-one, she has learned many ways to say goodbye, but losing her first born was never meant to be one of them. "Out of all of my memories, my favorite will always be the day my son came into this world and made me a mom" - Katie Taylor.