William E.G. Taylor

Mr. William E.G. Taylor, age 91, of Gainesville, Georgia, passed away Sunday, October 27, 2024 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center.

He was born July 2, 1933 in Sylacauga, Alabama, but his family soon after moved to Bessemer, Alabama. He was the son of the late Fred Lee Taylor and Oberia (Franklin) Taylor. He is also preceded in death by his brothers, Morgan Taylor, Gene Taylor and Edward Taylor.

He is survived by his loving wife Myra (Richey) Taylor; sons, Richie Taylor, Gainesville, Georgia; Shane Taylor, Anchorage, AK; two grandchildren, Jacob & Cas; three great-grandchildren; brother, Jimmy Taylor, Hueytown, Alabama.

Mr. Taylor graduated from Bessemer High School where he was a member of the All State Football Teams. He received a scholarship from the University of Florida. He played in a game as a freshman and then at the next game he didn’t get to play. That was when he joined the United States Army. He served two years in Germany, but it was in the early 1950’s so it was during peace time. His job was radio repair and playing football.

He returned to Jacksonville State and that is where he met his wife Myra. They met in January and were married in July of the same year. It must have been the right thing since they were married for 65 years.

E.G. played football four more years at Jacksonville State. He played center and was co-captain for two years. After receiving his degree in Business Education, E.G. and his family moved to Buchanan, Georgia, where he was a teacher and coach. His next coaching assignment was at Bank’s High School in Birmingham, Alabama. He was an assistant coach for both of these programs. Then he was the head coach at Villa Rica, Georgia for four years.

His last years were spent at North Hall High School, Beginning in 1967 for a total of nine years. In between, he was became the Principal at Lanier Elementary and moved back to North Hall High School with the students that were with him in first grade, making him the only principal those students had their entire education. He retired from North Hall in 1988. He ran a tight ship, but he was fair and treated everyone the same. It was said by the Chairman of the Board of Education that he knew when he sent his children to North Hall, he knew they would be safe and in good hands.

He traveled with his family extensively, every summer they would take off with some kind of camping equipment. Myra planned the trips and when we got to the end of the driveway E.G would say “Which Way”? That was a family joke. They even went to the World’s Fair in Canada with a tent and sleeping bags. That might have not been a good idea. Everything got soaking wet. They carried their sons to every state except Hawaii and Alaska. When Richie was a sophomore in College he jumped in and went along.

Shane later moved to Alaska, where he still lives. We were fortunate to be able to travel to a lot of places after retirement. They traveled to France, Italy, Ireland, Israel and even crossed over into Turkey. The trip to Israel was life changing, but his favorite places were Italy and Ireland.

E.G. was a long time member of Gainesville First United Methodist Church of was also a member of the COMET Class.

Celebration of life will be held 2:00 pm Thursday, October 31, 2024 at Gainesville First United Methodist Church with Jamey Prickett officiating.

Memorial Park Riverside Chapel 989 Riverside Drive Gainesville, Georgia is in charge of arrangements

For online condolences www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com .