Carl L. Taylor Sr., 80, of Chattanooga, died on Monday, June 29, 2009, at the residence of his son.
He was a graduate of the 1948 class of Nashville Christian Institute. After relocating to Chattanooga, Carl furthered his education by attending Zion College, where he received his associate’s of arts degree. He obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ and professed a hope in our eternal Savior, uniting with the Jackson Street Church of Christ in Nashville.
He served as minister of several Church of Christ congregations in Parkersburg, Wa., Tuscaloosa, Al., and Chattanooga. In December 1957, he became minister of the 19th & Williams Street Church of Christ, presently known as the Avondale Church of Christ.
After 40 years of service with the congregation, he retired on December 7, 1997, then served as minister emeritus until his death.
He worked with Crombie’s Funeral Service where he began his career in the funeral industry. On May 26, 1986, he became a licensed funeral director. In December 1990, the family opened Taylor Funeral Home, where he served as vice president and advisor to the company.
He was a member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association Inc., the Tennessee State Funeral Directors and Morticians Association Inc. and the East Tennessee Funeral Directors and Morticians Association Inc.
He served as chaplain for the state and local associations for several years. In 2001, he received the prestigious award of “Professional of the Year” from the TSFD&MA Inc.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his loving and devoted wife for 55 years, Mary Evelyn Conner Taylor; one daughter, Dorothy Annette Taylor, of Chattanooga; three sons, Carl L. (Jackie) Taylor Jr., John R. (Anita) Taylor Sr., both of Chattanooga, and Marshall N. (Adrienne) Taylor, of Virginia Beach, Va.; 11 grandchildren, Adowa Taylor, Marcus Smith, Alphonso Taylor, Carl L. Taylor III, John R. Taylor Jr., Jacqueline Janay Taylor, Dejurnetta “Dee Dee” Ragland; personal caregiver, Andrew L. Taylor, Taylor Battle, Mya Taylor and Marshall N. Taylor Jr.; nine great-grandchildren, TaMarcus Boyd, TaMari’us Smith, Janiya Smith, Alphonso Smith Jr., Kevin Morris, TaMarion Smith, Nicholas Moore, Gregory Allen and Jaydan Allen; brother-in-law, Jessie (Mary) Conner, of Tacoma, Wa.; sisters-in-law, Jewel Poe, of Cleveland, Ohio, Mary Elizabeth (Robert) Jackson, of Cleveland, Ohio, Betty Mosley, of Jackson, Tn., and Elizabeth Conner, of Cleveland, Ohio, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins (Cook and Taylor families), other relatives, spiritual family, Taylor Funeral Home family and many friends.
A celebration of life in songs will begin on Sunday at 1 p.m. with the funeral to follow at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel of Taylor Funeral Home with Brother Freeman Wyche, of Miami, Fl., as eulogist and Brother Dennis Bruce Gamble I officiating.
Burial will be in the family plot at Highland Memorial Gardens.
He will lie in state on Saturday after noon at the funeral home.