Rhea V. Taylor, Sr. ~ Obituary

August, 1983
The Fayette Falcon

Services Held For Rhea V. Taylor

Rhea Venable Taylor, Sr., resident of the Taylor’s Chapel Community, Route 5, Somerville, died at 10:50 a.m. Saturday, July 30, 1983 at the Methodist Hospital of Somerville where he had been a patient for one week. He was 83 and died following as extended illness of several years.

Funeral services were conducted at 3 p.m., Monday, August 1, in the Chapel of Peebles Fayette County Funeral Home with Rev. William Granberry officiating. Interment with Masonic graveside services, was in the Taylor’s Chapel Cemetery near Somerville.

Mr. Taylor was a native of Fayette County and was a lifelong resident of the Somerville area. He was the son of the late Samuel and Fannie Rhea Taylor, early residents of Fayette County. He attended local schools and Mississippi State A & M College in Starkville, Mississippi. He was married June 12, 1930 to the former Miss Jennie Paris of Ripley, Tennessee, who survives.

Mr. Taylor was long active in the civic, religious and business activities of Fayette County. He was a farmer and landowner for many years before his retirement 15 years ago. He served for over 34 years as a member of the Fayette County School Board and later served as chairman for a number of years. He had formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Memphis Area Production Credit Association and was a partner and operator of the Dancyville Cotton Gin.

Mr. Taylor had been a member of the Methodist Church all of his life and was a former member of the Taylor’s Chapel Methodist Church before it consolidated with the Somerville First United Methodist Church. He was a former member of the Administrative Board of the Somerville First United Methodist Church and was serving as an honorary member at the time of his death.

A Mason for over 50 years, Mr. Taylor was a member of the Somerville Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and the Eastern Star. For many years he was active in the Joyner’s Campground Association and served as a trustee of both the Campground and the Taylor’s Chapel Church Board.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters: Mrs. Frances Woody of Storrs, Connecticut, Mrs. Margaret Smith of Shelbyville, Tennessee two sisters: Mrs. Mary Louise Stark of Deerfield Beach, Florida, Mrs. Jennie Davis of North Little Rock, Arkansas, one brother, Sam C. Taylor of Somerville and nine grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Thomas Howell Fowler, Dr. C. T. McCraw, Tommy Rhea, C. P. Snowden, June Walker, Jr. and Whitson Winfrey.

The family request that memorials be made to the Joyner’s Campground Association % June Walker, Jr. Route 5, Somerville, Tennessee or to the Somerville First United Methodist Church.