Jennie Paris Taylor ~ Obituary

The Fayette Falcon
January, 2001

Mrs. Jennie Paris Taylor, a longtime resident of the Taylor’s Chapel Community North of Somerville and a member of a family long active in the agricultural, religious and community activities of Fayette County, died at 11 A. M. Sunday, January 14, 2001, at the Methodist Hospital of Fayette in Somerville where she had been a patient for the past ten days. She was ninety-seven years of age and died following a brief illness.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 P.M. Tuesday, January 16h, at the Peebles Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Rev. Walter German, Pastor of the First United Methodist Church in Somerville, officiating. Interment was in the Taylor’s Chapel Cemetery. Peebles Fayette County Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Taylor was born August 17, 1903, in Ripley, Tennessee, the daughter of the late James A. and Cora Foust Paris. She attended Lauderdale County schools and was a graduate of the Tennessee College for Women in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Mrs. Taylor was married June 12, 1930, to Mr. Rhea Venable Taylor, Sr., well-known Fayette County farmer, landowner and cotton ginner who preceded her in death on July 30, 1983.

Mrs. Taylor was a homemaker throughout her life and was also involved with her family in the Taylor Farm operation for many years before their retirement. She had been a resident of Fayette County for seventy years and was a Methodist throughout her life. She was a former member of the Taylor’s Chapel Methodist Church and was a member of the Somerville First United Methodist Church at the time of her death. Mrs. Taylor and her late husband were active participants and benefactors to the Joyner’s Campground Association in Fayette County for many years.

Known for her independence and quiet mannerisms, Mrs. Taylor continued to maintain the Taylor family home and drive her automobile until her recent illness. She was a longtime member of the Craddock Book Club in Somerville and was a member for many years of the Somerville Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star where she had served in various offices.

She is survived by two daughters, Frances Taylor Woody of Storrs, Connecticut, Margaret Taylor Smith of Shelbyville, Tennessee, her daughter-in-law, Jan Taylor Cloud of Somerville, her brother, Robert Paris of Atlanta, Georgia, nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Taylor was preceded in death by her son, Rhea V. Taylor, Jr. who died in 1976 and her four brothers.

Casketbearers were Richard T. Smith, David N. Taylor, Rhea V. Taylor III, Timothy M. Taylor, C. Gerald Thorpe and Michael T. Thorpe.

The family request that memorials be made to the Joyner’s Campground Association, J. T. Walker, Jr. Treasurer, 3490 Yum Yum Road, Somerville, Tenn. 38068.