Jack Taylor

Funeral service for Rev. William Jackson "Jack" Taylor, age 81, of Cookeville, will be held Saturday September 1, at 11 a.m at Cookeville Freewill Baptist Church. Pastor Charles Cook and Pastor Randy Hill will officiate. Interment will follow at Crest Lawn Cemetery. His family will receive friends Friday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and again Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time at Cookeville Freewill Baptist Church. Rev. Taylor passed away Wednesday evening August 29, 2018 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born Saturday October 24, 1936 in Richmond, VA to the late William Harry and Sudie Elizabeth Cox Taylor. Rev. Taylor was a member of Cookeville Freewill Baptist Church. Before entering the ministry, he was an associate with Georgia Boot Company and Borden Electric. After being called into ministry, he served a number of area Freewill Baptist Churches including Post Oak Shade, Bethel, Gentry, Stone Seminary, Taylor Seminary. He was Pastor at Monterey FWB Church for over 22 years along with hosting the Waves of Faith Radio Program on WHUB. He retired from the ministry after pastoring Forrest Grove FWB Church in Knoxville for over seven years. He was a long-time member and Chairman of Family Ministries (Children's Home) Board of Directors, serving as Field Representative for 23 years. He and Rev. Willie B. Rodgers were founders of Cookeville Regional Medical Center Chaplains. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Don Taylor, and brother, James Robert "J.R." Taylor. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betty Kirby Taylor, whom he married October 30, 1954 in Rossville, GA; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Dee Taylor of Mt. Juliet, TN; daughter and son-in-law, Kim and Randy Hill of Cookeville; five grandchildren, Kristen (Alan) Mills, Heather (Brad) White, Mikayla Taylor, Corrie (Scott) Travis, and Kirby Hill; four great grandchildren, Paisley White, Paxton White, Maleah Taylor, and Jaxon Scott; two sisters, Nancy (Doug)Wharton of Atlanta, GA, and Betty (Freddy) Ragland of Murfreesboro, TN; and brother, Virgil (Yvonne) Taylor of Buford, GA. Pallbearers will be Kirby Hill, Brad White, Fred Ragland, Travis Scott, Jim Taylor, and Virgil Taylor. Memorial contributions may be made to Family Ministries, 90 Stanley Lane, Greenville, TN 37743.