Willie Taylor, Sr.

Willie Taylor, Sr. was born August 3, 1934, to the union of George O’Bannon and Hattie Taylor O’Bannon in Grand Junction, Tennessee. 

Willie met and married Willie Mae Bell in October 1955. To this union, eight children were born in Caruthersville, Missouri.

He later moved to Chicago, Illinois and then to Detroit, Michigan where he became a brick mason.  After his retirement from brick mason, he became a janitor for Southwestern Bell.

Willie passed away on November 23, 2021, in Blytheville, Arkansas.

He leaves to cherish his memories to his children:  Flora Pittman, Katherine Morgan, Carol (Rodney) Williams of Caruthersville, MO; Willie Taylor, Jr., Terry Taylor, Cortez Taylor of Atlanta, GA; Benny Bell of Caruthersville, MO; Rodney Bess of California and Regina of Detriot, MI; step children:  Thoris Hamed of Maryland, Milton Johnson III of Lansing, MI, and the mother of his children Willie Mae Taylor who stuck with him through thick and thin.  Two brothers; Joseph (Elaine) Taylor of Augustus, GA, and Robert Taylor of Indianapolis, IN.  A very close sister-in-law, Callie Taylor.

Preceding him in death was his parents, two brothers, Eldridge Taylor, Sr., Lee Roy (Louethel) Taylor, Maebelle Roundtree, two daughters, Rosie Marie and Donna Marie Taylor, one son, Micheal Bailey, granddaughter Vanita Gates and step daughter, Mildred Johnson.

Funeral services were held December 4, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. in the H.S. Smith Chapel.  Interment in Morgan Ridge Cemetery in Caruthersville, Missouri.

H. S. Smith Funeral Home in charge of services.