NEWTON…Mr. Jerry Taylor, a resident of Newton, near Pinckard, died early Sunday morning, April 12, 2026, at his home. He was 64.
Graveside services will be held Friday, April 17, 2026, at 2:00 P.M. (E.T.) at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Dawson, Georgia, with his brother-in-law, Pastor Dale Hodges officiating. The family will receive friends following the graveside service. Fuqua Bankston Funeral Home of Ozark is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Taylor was born in Dothan, Alabama, and raised in the close‑knit community of Rehobeth. He grew up with the kind of small‑town values that stayed with him his whole life—hard work, loyalty, and a deep love for the people around him. He graduated from Rehobeth High School in 1979, proud to be a Rebel, and carried those memories with him through the years.
Not long after high school, he began working at Sony, where he built a career that spanned 34 years. He was the kind of person who showed up every day, gave his best, and treated his coworkers like family. Later, he continued that same dedication at Michelin, where he worked for more than a decade. No matter what the job, he took pride in doing things the right way.
In 2009, he married Cathy Lynn Taylor, the love of his life. Their 18 years together were filled with laughter, partnership, and the kind of steady, everyday devotion that speaks louder than grand gestures ever could. They built a life side by side, supporting each other through every season.
He loved Alabama football—win or lose, he cheered with his whole heart. Saturdays in the fall were sacred, and he enjoyed every moment of it. He liked to play golf, never taking the game too seriously, just enjoying the time spent outside with friends. And he had a real talent for woodworking. Whether he was building something new or fixing something old, he found peace in working with his hands.
More than anything, he will be remembered for his kindness, his quiet strength, and the way he made people feel welcome and cared for. He lived a simple, honest life, and he loved deeply—his family, his friends, and the place he called home. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Agnes Guy Taylor of Dawson, Georgia.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Cathy Taylor, Newton; daughters Emily Taylor (Dannard) Ashford, Alabama, Dana Enfinger (Joseph) Newton, Alabama; son Jeremy Taylor Dothan, Alabama; father Benjamin Leon Taylor, Dawson, Georgia; sisters Sherry Gilley (Melvin) Dawson, Georgia, Teresa Hodges (Dale) Leesburg, Georgia; five grandchildren Damian Taylor, Ellason Brown, Abby Mac Gay, Garrison Gay, Mikelyn Enfinger; numerous nieces and nephews, including niece, Kristy Gilley Miller, Leesburg, Georgia, nephews, Scott Gilley (Melaina) Albany, Georgia, and Justin Hodges (Kendall), Americus, Georgia; great niece, Addie Gilley; great-nephews, Rhye Gilley and Aydan Miller.
