Richard Taylor Jr. Of Southampton Dies December 22

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.