James Albert “Jim” Taylor, 76, retired educator and resident of Lyon Street, died Thursday, October 26, 2023 at Maury Regional Medical Center.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, November 2, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church with The Rev. Father Chris Bowhay officiating. Burial will follow in St. John’s Churchyard. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 5:00 P.M. –7:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home and Thursday from 12:30 P.M. –2:00 P.M in the Parish Hall of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 311 West Seventh Street, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com.
Born December 29, 1946 in Jackson, TN., he was the son of the late James F. Taylor Jr. and the late Lucile Bridges Taylor. Jim was a 1965 graduate of Columbia Central High School and earned his Bachelor degree from Lambuth College, where he met Linda “Lin” Runner, whom he married on June 7, 1969. Jim and Lin were married for 49 wonderful years until her passing in 2018. He received his M.A.T. from Jacksonville State University and began his teaching career in Jacksonville, Florida. After relocating to Tennessee with Lin on Valentine’s Day in 1976, he went on to teach at Whitthorne Middle School, Central High School, and Santa Fe School teaching Math and Science before retiring from forty-two years in education. Jim also taught at Columbia State Community College for over thirty-two years. He was passionate and energetic when it came to teaching, he made learning fun for his students and left a huge impact on many lives. Jim was a big St. Louis Cardinals fan and enjoyed listening to organ music. He was a member of the Maury County Retired Teachers Association and St. Peter’s Episcopal Church where he had served as a Sunday School teacher.
Survivors include his sons, Robert Taylor of Tyler, Texas and Andrew Taylor of Columbia; brothers, Tom Taylor of Jackson and Bill Taylor of Nashville; granddaughter, Ashley Taylor; nieces, Beth Taylor, Joy Taylor Yeh, Christina Runner; nephew, Tommy Taylor; and brother-in-law, John Runner of Columbia. Active pallbearers will be Wes Brown, Tony Brown, Braxton Miller, Randy Miller, Matt Heithcock, Jeff Wood, Robert Taylor and Andrew Taylor. Honorary pallbearers will include the members of the Maury County Retired Teachers Association and fellow educators.
