ERNEST B. TAYLOR SR.
Ernest B. Taylor Sr., 91, husband of the late Frances Kathleen Rhodes Taylor, passed away Monday, Dec. 10, 2018, at Palmetto Health Tuomey.
Born April 12, 1927, in Williamston, North Carolina, he was the son of the late E.L. Taylor and Rachel Lawrence Taylor. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, stationed in Germany and the surrounding area. He attended Campbell College and was a proud graduate of N.C. State University. Mr. Taylor worked for Sears and Roebuck in Charleston for more than 35 years, winning numerous national sales awards. He was a Christian who faithfully studied God's word and lived a life of service to his family, fellow church members and his neighbors. He was a member of First Baptist Church. He prided himself in his frugality, his mechanical aptitude and his nickname, Jitterbug, which came from his love of dancing in his younger years.
Survivors include two children, Jill Taylor Jones (Dickie) of Sumter and Ernest B. Taylor Jr. of Atlanta; seven grandchildren, Rachel Jones Brown, Sarah Jill Jones, Richard Cogburn Jones (Jade), Ernest Lee Taylor, Ashley Weems Taylor, Richard Brandon Taylor (Amy) and Daniel Rhodes Taylor; three great-grandchildren, Taylor Parks Brown, Sarah Cogburn Brown and Felix Samuel Taylor; two sisters, O'Neil Taylor Raiford of Williamston, North Carolina, and Bonnie Taylor Sugg of Tallahassee, Florida; and his beloved cat, Little Bit.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Irene Taylor Owens.
A graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in Pinewood Cemetery with the Rev. Dan Barber and the Rev. Allen Lowe officiating.
The family will receive friends from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. today at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home of Dickie and Jill Jones, 1 Frank Clark St.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 107 E. Liberty St., Sumter, SC 29150.
Many thanks to the nurses and doctors on the Telemetry floor of Palmetto Health Tuomey for their kindness, patience and tender care.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.