Gene Taylor

Gene Paul Taylor, of Birmingham, passed away at the age of 77 on September 9, 2015. He was born in Clanton, Alabama, on June 18, 1938. Gene grew up in Sylacauga, graduated from Sylacauga High School in 1956, and went on to graduate from Howard College (Now Samford University) in 1960. Gene commissioned into the United States Marine Corps as a Second Lieutenant in June 1960, and faithfully served his country as a communications and cryptologic officer in Beaufort South Carolina until he was honorably discharged in June 1963.

Gene married Carol Ann Brackin in 1972 and obtained his Juris Doctor from Birmingham School Law in 1976. He worked for Vulcan Materials Company in Birmingham until he retired in 1995.

Outside of his working life, Gene maintained abiding interests in both communications and music. Gene was an avid HAM radio operator (call sign: W4GCI) and was also a talented musician who played French horn, the clarinet, the saxophone, and the oboe. He was a longtime member of several orchestral groups including the Briarwood Presbyterian Orchestra, Birmingham Community Concert Band, and Ain't Misbehavin'. Gene also sang in several church and community choirs over the course of his life, singing most recently with Colla Voce, the Birmingham Concert Chorale, and Opera Birmingham Chorus.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Lucyle and Aubrey Taylor, and his daughter, Susan Ann Taylor. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Carol Ann Taylor, and by his children, Cindy Taylor Weatherford (Joel) of Dothan, Alabama, Paul Eugene Taylor (Bridget), Dawn Taylor Peterson (Karl), and Debra Lynn Russell (Michael) all of Birmingham. He leaves behind ten grandchildren and one great grandchild.

A memorial service will be held at McElwain Baptist Church on Monday, September 14th at 4:00pm with family visitation immediately following the service.