Natie Lamar Taylor Funeral services for Natie Lamar Taylor will be held Saturday, February 19, 2011, 10:30 A.M. at New Hope Baptist Church with Reverends James Gibson, Randall Creel and Jim Wall officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery with Robert Barham Family Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Mr. Taylor, 90, of Meridian, died Thursday, February 17, 2011. He was born April 2, 1920 in Lauderdale County where he lived his entire life. Mr. Taylor was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. On November 16, 1940 he married Jewell Williams and they were happily married for 61 years. He was a life-long member of New Hope Baptist Church where he sang in the choir for many years. Additionally, he was a successful businessman, farmer, cattleman and public servant. He and his son, Priestly, were co-owners of Taylor's Peach and Cattle Farm. He was first elected to the Lauderdale County School Board in 1954 and served for over 11 years. He then successfully campaigned for Supervisor of District Four in Lauderdale County and was elected in 1965. He loved meeting and interacting with the people of District Four and was continuously re-elected by his constituency until his retirement in 1985. Survivors include his daughter, Frances Taylor Thornhill; son-in-law, David Mcllwain; daughter-in-law, Janice Taylor; grandchildren, Teresa F. Thornhill, Brenda Thornhill Scaggs and her husband Skip, Chad W. Thornhill and his wife Chanda, Christopher Mcllwain and his wife Dee, Stephanie Mcllwain Ivey and her husband Josh, Nathan Taylor, Natalie Taylor Snowden and her husband, Mark, Justin Taylor and his wife Paige; fourteen great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; numerous great nieces and great nephews; sisters-in-law, Inell Moffett Taylor, Sarah Williams and Martha Williams; brother in law, Billy Williams and his wife Barbara; and loving former wife Earlene Wall Taylor. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jewell Williams Taylor; daughter, Faye Taylor Mcllwain; son Priestly Lamar Taylor; parents, Natie and Sadie Taylor; sisters, Omera Taylor Anderson and Glennie Taylor Norris Lucas; and a brother, Robert Leonard Taylor. Pallbearers will be Chris Mcllwain, Chad Thornhill, Nathan Taylor, Justin Taylor, Skip Scaggs, Mark Snowden, Josh Ivey and Tom Williams. Honorary pallbearers will be Billy Williams, Stanley Shannon, Raymond McDonald, Todd Mathis and Willie Arledge. The family requests memorials be made to New Hope Baptist Church Building Fund. Family and friends may sign online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com. Visitation will be held Friday 5:30-8:00 at the funeral home.
