Clifton (Woody) Woodrow Taylor

Clifton Woodrow (Woody) Taylor, 81 of Valdosta, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, at his home surrounded by family. Woody was born, the youngest of five children, on August 16, 1934 in Deep Run, North Carolina to the late William Allen Taylor, Sr. and Gertrude Turner Taylor. He was immediately dubbed 'the favorite' of five and grew up dirt poor, but in a home filled with expansive love and a great work ethic. He spent some of his youth stealing school buses and much of it playing sports. He came close to signing with the minor leagues as a pitcher, and his only other claim to fame, before leaving North Carolina, was using his Studebaker Golden Hawk to make quick enemies of the Lenoir County Police Department. When he was only a young man himself, Woody had a beautiful son, whom he adored and admired completely.

He joined the Army in December 1957 (probably to get away from a mounting pile of speeding tickets) and was stationed at Ft. Benning, Georgia, where he met and later married his one true love in 1960. Over the next decade, after being told by doctors he couldn't 'produce' more children, Woody proved them wrong by creating three of the most breathtaking offspring ever born. After taking an upgraded position as Sales Consultant for Bemiss/Curwood Inc. , he chose Valdosta (against his wife's preference of Orlando) as the family's new home. Woody never met a stranger, and that gift of gab served him well, enabling him to retire early, after 27 years with the company.

He was a proud Mason and Shriner for over three decades, and held memberships at VCC and Stone Creek. He was an avid bowler and exceptional golfer, winning multiple league championships and two senior golf championships. Off the course, Woody enjoyed yardwork and landscaping, creating beautiful grounds at home, as well as serving several years on the Grounds Committee for First Christian Church, where he was an active member and Deacon. He loved his self-built workshop; using his massive collection of tools to build furniture, complete remodeling work, and make incredible additions and improvements to his home.

Woody was a tremendous personality; a master storyteller with a hilarious sense of humor – unparalleled in the art of getting a good laugh. He was best known for his unwavering love of family, as well as a long standing passion for redheads, Coors Light, and colorful language. In recent months, he became somewhat obsessed with Coconut Almond Fudge Ice Cream, Biscoff cookies and Southern Supreme Fruitcake. Woody maintained a captive audience of dear friends and close family up until the very end, with hugs and love and inappropriate jokes all around. He was patient, caring and kind, and never complained - not a single second - about the short straw he had drawn. He is finally out of the sand trap, after taking the only shot he had and making the most of it. His life and death should be a lesson to us all.

Survivors include his wife and love of his life for 56 years, Virginia (Red) Taylor; two sons, Larry Taylor of North Hills, California and Barry (Sheri) Taylor of Valdosta; a daughter, Valerie Taylor Shackleford (Michael) of Honolulu, Hawaii; his grandchildren, Brooke (Trevor) Dukes, Megan (Landon) Crown, Jaclyn Taylor, Carlie Starling and Caleb Starling; great grandchildren, Gabriel Dukes and Ava Crown; two brothers, Allen (Joyce) Taylor of Kinston, NC and Tom Taylor of Ft. Barnwell, NC. He leaves behind numerous beloved in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of lifelong friends. He was preceded in death by a son, Jeffrey Taylor, and two sisters, Grace Thompson and Pearl Green.

The funeral for Mr. Taylor will be held at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at First Christian Church. Rev. Chris Michael will officiate. The family will receive friends at the church from 5 p.m. until service time at the church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Christian Church of Valdosta or the cancer research organization of choice. Condolences may be conveyed on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home


Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602