Billy Taylor

A happening took place at a farmhouse (The Place) on the outskirts of Sunflower, Mississippi back in 1931. It was Billy George Taylor that happened on January 29, 1931. Until his happening in heaven on April 11, 2022, he lived a full life with family and friends. Growing up, Billy was the middle child to John William Taylor (Pa) and Mary Park Taylor (Momma). He and his siblings (John and Tommy) worked hard on the farm (unless there was oatmeal for breakfast which Billy conveniently followed the direction of his Momma not to leave the table until he finished his breakfast. Let’s just say the brothers took on extra work those days on the farm while Billy sat at the table with that cold bowl of oatmeal for hours.) As a teenager, he met the love of his life Mona Ree Canode and dated throughout high school into college. He attended Harvard on the Highway (MS Delta Jr College) for a short 7 years (high school and partial college); he was in the Army, and then married Mona Ree in 1953 and they moved to Starkville, where he earned his BS in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State College (MSU) and upon graduation began his career as an Electrical Engineer at Delta Electric Power Association (DEPA) in Greenwood, Mississippi. In 1965, He briefly moved the family to Cape Canaveral, FL to work for Pan Am on projects for NASA before returning to DEPA in 1967 where he remained until the end of his career in 1998.

Billy was an active member of First Baptist Church of Greenwood, serving as Sunday school teacher, deacon, choir member and “the sound guy.” He helped design the sound system when the church built a new sanctuary in the 1970’s and was faithful in ensuring all audio was ready before services, weddings, etc. Billy also contributed to the Greenwood community through service with the Optimists Club. Billy’s love of music began at an early age through choir and band. He continued to play the cornet for 42 years with the Greenwood Community Band.  Overall, Billy was known to many as a genuine friend who always kept his word and usually made you laugh at every encounter. He was Daddy to his children and “Big” Daddy to his grandchildren. Daddy was a loving, devoted father who spent time with his kids fishing and teaching us “anything was possible if you just put your mind to it.” He helped with special projects, advanced math (a lot), band boosters and any other activities the kids were involved. He took a front row seat to all aspects of his life and lived it to the fullest. He is survived by his daughters Olivia Marx (Richard) of Jamestown, NC, Tanya Speer (Michael) of Edmond, OK, sons; Michael Taylor (Jean) of Pawnee, IL, Tim Taylor of Greenwood. Four grandchildren Neal Marx (Kelsey) of Goldsboro, NC, Hannah Taylor of Hanover, MD, Parker Speer of Edmond, OK and Hayden Speer of Edmond, OK. One great-grandchild Bailey Bennett (Goldsboro, NC). He is preceded in by his wife Mona Ree Taylor, father John William Taylor, mother Mary Park Taylor, brothers John Park Taylor (Clara Nell) and Tommy Taylor (Betty).

Services are 2 P.M. Thursday, April 14, 2022, at Greenwood Delta Funeral Home with Rev. Ed McDaniel officiating. Visitation will be from 12-2 P.M. prior to the service. He will be buried at Rome Cemetery in Rome Mississippi.    

Pallbearers will be Bobby Knox, Bubba DeLoach, Larry Walker, Robbie Wilson, Johnny Serio, Harold Pittman

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church 500 W Washington, Greenwood, MS 38930

Greenwood Delta Funeral Home (www.greenwooddeltafh.com) is in charge of arrangements.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Billy Taylor, please visit our floral store.