Capt. James Kenneth Taylor USA (RET)

Capt. James Kenneth Taylor, USA (RET), 76, of Pavo, died Saturday, December 5, 2020 at Kindred Hospital in Ocala, FL.

          Funeral services will be held 11:00AM Friday, December 11, 2020 at Cobb Funeral Chapel with his nephew the Rev. Bobby Palmetree of Winona, MS officiating.  Interment, with military honors, will follow in Bridge Creek Cemetery.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at Cobb Funeral Chapel. Social distancing guidelines will be followed, masks are recommended.

          Born October 28, 1944 in Moultrie, he was the son of the late Chester Shelby Taylor, Sr. and Mary Madilyn Blackey Taylor.  Mr. Taylor was a Retired United States Army Captain and was of the Baptist faith.

          Beginning his military career at 18yo, he enlisted in the 30th "Old Hickory" Infantry Division (Mech), Company C, 108th Armor and after Basic Training at Ft. Jackson, SC he was promoted to Corporal. Throughout his military career, with the US Army and Georgia National Guard, he always strived to excel at every rank he earned, never turned down the opportunity to attend leadership, tactics and special weapons training schools. At the time of retirement, he had achieved the rank of Captain and was simultaneously commanding 3 separated Combat Line Companies of the 24th Infantry Division, 48th Brigade, 121st Infantry, 2nd Battalion Georgia Army National Guard. Other than his completion of Officers Candidate School, his proudest achievement was, as a young 2nd Lieutenant, completing the week-long "Loyal Order of Rattlegator" survival course to become one of the very few to achieve the title of Expert Rattlegator First Class.

          In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth Taylor Welch; brother, Chester Shelby Taylor, Jr.

          Survivors include his wife, Lynda Waid Taylor of Pavo; son, James Keith Taylor of Pavo; sisters, Joyce Taylor Greene of Thomasville, Katrina Taylor Weeks and husband Robert of Needmore, GA, Jean Taylor Barton and husband Gerald of Hopkinsville, KY, Brenda Taylor Matthews and husband Johnny of Sylvester, Karen Taylor Thompson and husband Andy of Atlanta; brother, Jack Taylor and wife Janice Stockbridge, GA.