Roy Edward Taylor, Sr.

Roy Edward Taylor, Sr. passed from this life to the next in the afternoon hours of February 3, 2023. He was born on November 3, 1932, in rural Coffee County, Georgia to Roy Clinton and Ruth Teston Taylor, and raised his family and built his businesses in Valdosta. Although no formal medical diagnosis was ever proffered, Roy had a mental condition which allowed him to enjoy life more than anyone other person ever has. He would wake early each morning and share the observation that “Life is a wonderful gift!” with whoever would answer the phone in the pre-dawn hours. He, quite simply, loved to be in love — with work, with family, with food, with women, with life. Roy was a family man of the marrying type, often bragging that he had married 5 women, 6 times and that he was always on the hunt for the next lucky woman. He was a strong father to strong, intelligent and dedicated children. He didn’t recognize a distinction between his natural children and stepchildren, they were all “his” in his heart.

In his days, he was successful in whatever he turned his hand to, building successful businesses in many fields - dry cleaning, restaurants, insurance, real estate, and private lending. He enjoyed the profits of those businesses through travel, enjoying time on the lake, feeding his fish and always looking for the next good investment. He grew up in the most abject poverty, in the deepest part of the Depression. He once remembered a Christmas where the family had the clothes on their back and a single nickel. That profound sense of not having enough drove his charitable efforts for children. No one ever asked him for a donation that would benefit children and was turned away empty-handed. Through his generosity, tens of thousands of children have had their lives improved.

A man of abiding integrity all his days, Roy would deliver the unvarnished truth to those he thought needed to hear it. This blessed some, irked others, but delighted him to his core. He couldn’t abide a liar or a cheat and took on the mantle of keeping politicians honest and focused on the public good.

He was preceded in death by those he loved dearly — his parents, sister Lydia Mae Flanagan, sons Eddie and Eric Taylor and David Purdy, and grandson Trent Taylor— he spoke of them often, with longing and passion. His own loss will be felt keenly by those who remain — children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, too many to name — all aware of Roy’s central legacy: Work hard and with integrity at things worth doing, love big and treat life as a wonderful gift.

Over many conversations Roy made it clear that at his passing, his life should be celebrated. His family intends to do just that with a visitation of friends and family on Wednesday, from 5:00 to 7:00pm at Carson McLane Funeral Home. His farewell service will be in the chapel of Carson McLane Funeral Home at 2 pm on Thursday, February 9, 2023, with an interment to follow at Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will welcome guests at Park Place from 4:00-6:00 on Thursday following the committal. In lieu of flowers, Roy would have preferred a donation to the Eddie Taylor Foundation, a fund of the Community Foundation of South Georgia. 

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Condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home