By Staff
Army SPC Joel Allen Taylor, age 20, was killed in combat as a result of a roadside explosive in Iraq Tuesday, June 24, 2008.
Funeral services will be held 3 p.m. Thursday July 3, 2008 at First Church of Christ Life Center, 520 East 10th Street, Washington, conducted by Tad Tankard and Rupert Wallace. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Harris-Taylor Family Cemetery, near his home on Highway 32 North, Pinetown. Members of the Washington Fire Department will serve as honorary pallbearers.
SPC Taylor was born in Pitt County on December 24, 1987. He was the son of Scottie Allen Taylor and Caren Wallace Newman. SPC Taylor was a 2006 graduate of Northside High School. He was in the JROTC program and on the Drill Team, receiving the Recruiters Exceptional Leadership award. He was a member of the Northside Cross Country and Track team and enjoyed playing soccer. He also was involved with Battle of the Arts and other plays at Northside. He was an active member of Harvest Church in Washington. SPC Taylor joined the Army on June 22, 2006 where he was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Calvary Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas. This was Taylor’s first deployment to Iraq.
Survivors include his father, Scottie Taylor and wife Teresa; sister Amber of Pinetown; his mother, Caren Newman and husband Tom, of Washington; his fianc/e, Hope Bohrer of Bath; his brother, John Scott Taylor and his fianc/e, Melanie Butts of Ft. Bragg; his maternal grandparents, Donald and Annie Belle Wallace of Washington; his paternal grandparents, John and Faye Taylor of Birmingham, Alabama. He is also survived by three step-brothers: Michael, Jonathan and Christopher Newman.
The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday July 2, 2008 at First Church of Christ Life Center, 520 East 10th Street, Washington and other times at the home of his parents, Scottie and Teresa Taylor, 16135 N.C. Hwy 32 North, Pinetown and Caren and Tom Newman, 557 Mill Hole Road, Washington.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to: Wounded Warriors Project, 7020 A.C. Skinner Pkwy. Suite 100, Jacksonville, FL 32256. The mission of the Wounded Warriors Project organization is to provide support to the families of those who have been wounded, injured or killed during combat operations.
You may view SPC Taylor’s video tribute or sign his guest book by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is serving Joel’s family.
Paid Obituary