Richard Taylor Jr. Of Southampton Dies December 22

icon 1 Photo

author on Jan 4, 2016

Richard Taylor Jr. of Southampton died on December 22 at Southampton Hospital. He was 75.

Born September 12, 1940, in Currituck, North Carolina, he was the son of Richard and Beatrice Taylor. He attended Currituck schools and after realizing he had a passion for working with his hands, trained as a carpenter under the tutelage of his uncle, Edward Taylor. His family relocated to Southampton and Mr. Taylor went to work at Herb McCarthy’s Bowden Square restaurant. He obtained his home improvement license in 1984 with the support and encouragement of a client, Peter Lipman-Wulf; the result was the Taylor Construction Company. He worked tirelessly, building and remodeling homes throughout the East End, until he retired in 2003.

He was a member of the Community Baptist Church in Southampton where he was an usher and a deacon (ordained in 1985). He later joined the First Baptist Church in Bridgehampton, before moving to Delaware in retirement. After returning to Southampton in December 2012, he reinstated his membership at the Community Baptist Church.

He married Rosa Sawyer, who survives him, in January 1960.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, Welton of Southampton and Ricky and wife Andrea of Southampton; a daughter, Everlette Taylor of Southampton; five grandchildren, Aaron Taylor of Patchogue, Eboni Cowell of Brooklyn, William Reddick of Southampton, Madison Taylor of Southampton, and Faith Taylor of Southampton; a sister, Erma Saunders; a brother, Ernie Taylor of Coram; five aunts, Erma Ferebee, Margaret Walston and Marion Moore, all of Virginia, and Mary Trafton and Katherine Spellman, both of Southampton; an uncle, Ernest Spellman of Southampton; eight brothers-in-law, Reverend William Sawyer and wife Martha, Ervin Sawyer and wife Gloria, Curtis Sawyer and wife Mioshi, David Sawyer and wife Debra, Julius Williams and wife Lillie Mae, Jeffrey Riddick and wife Verneice, and Roscoe Spence and wife Patricia, all of North Carolina, and Calvin Williams and wife Jeanette of New Jersey; and sisters-in-law, Gwen Nixon and husband Donald and Myra Sawyer, all of North Carolina; and Evelyn Taylor of Southampton; and many relatives and friends.

A funeral service took place on December 28 at the Community Baptist Church in Southampton. Burial followed at Southampton Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.

You May Also Like:

New Southampton Administrator Draws on Childhood Journey To Welcome Multilingual Learners

When Jully Williams sat down in front of Colleen Henke’s third grade class last week, ... 14 Dec 2025 by Michelle Trauring

A New 27east and More Big Changes for The Express News Group

The Express News Group is launching a brand-new 27east.com this month, a major step forward ... 13 Dec 2025 by 27Speaks

Fractures Showing on Southampton Village Board Over Issues Like Meeting Agendas, Records Release, Workforce Housing and More

There was a period of time, not too long ago, when the Southampton Village Board could be counted on to pass almost any resolution or legislation with a 5-0 vote. It happened so frequently, in fact, that many residents began to question if that kind of uniformity of thought was healthy for the village, or if it was a sign that the art of dissent had been lost, along with a willingness to thoughtfully examine both sides of any given issue. One thing’s been made clear in the second half of the calendar year — that period of smooth sailing ... 12 Dec 2025 by Cailin Riley

East Quogue Engineer's Dazzling Light Show Brings Joy and Raises Money for St. Jude Children's Hospital

​When Joseph Commisso was a child, growing up in East Quogue, he remembers making a ... by Cailin Riley

Southampton Police Reports for the Week of December 11

WESTHAMPTON BEACH — Dario Vasquez, 26, of Hampton Bays was arrested by Westhampton Beach Village Police on December 9 and charged with driving while ability impaired by alcohol, a misdemeanor. At 1:09 a.m., Police said they observed a blue Chevrolet Silverado traveling west on Mill Road in an unsafe manner by failing to maintain its designated lane. Officers conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Mill Road and Wayne Court. The driver exhibited signs of intoxication and was placed under arrest, according to police. FLANDERS — Walmer Santos-Alvarez, 25, of Riverhead was arrested by Southampton Town Police at about ... by Staff Writer

Southampton Community Packs a Truckload of Holiday Cheer for Families in Need

Southampton Town residents have once again shown their generosity by contributing to the Southampton Town ... by Staff Writer

Harmony for the Holidays

Let’s be real: As jolly as the holidays can be, they can also be overwhelming. ... by Jessie Kenny

Dear Neighbor

Congratulations on your new windows. They certainly are big. They certainly are see-through. You must be thrilled with the way they removed even more of that wall and replaced it with glass. It must make it easier to see what is going on in your house even when the internet is down. And security is everything. Which explains the windows. Nothing will make you feel more secure than imagining yourself looking over the rear-yard setback from these massive sheets of structural glass. Staring at the wall has well-known deleterious impact, and windows the size of movie screens are the bold ... 11 Dec 2025 by Marilee Foster

I Can Dish It Out

Our basement looks like the final scene in “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” where the (found) ark is crated and wheeled into the middle of a government warehouse with stacked crates going on for miles. In other words, we have a lot of stuff. This tracks. Mr. Hockey and I have been married for 36 (according to my calculator) years. We’ve had four (no calculator needed) pucks. We’ve lived in seven (according to my fingers) different homes in three (no calculator or fingers needed) countries. In 2010, we moved back to East Hampton full time. We brought everything we had ... by Tracy Grathwohl

The Urgency of Real

The Hamptons International Film Festival typically takes up a lot of oxygen in the fall on the South Fork, but it’s worth celebrating a slightly smaller but just as vital event in late autumn: the Hamptons Doc Fest. Running this week for its 18th year, the festival of documentaries was founded by Jacqui Lofaro and has become an essential part of the region’s arts scene every year. It’s a 12-month undertaking for Lofaro and her staff, and the result is always a tantalizing buffet of outstanding filmmaking, not to mention unforgettable stories. The arrival of the era of streaming services ... 10 Dec 2025 by Editorial Board