James Lee Taylor, age 77 on Good Friday evening March 25, 2016 the world lost a good Godly man when James Lee Taylor went to be with the Lord. He was born January 7, 1939 in Jeff Davis County, Georgia the oldest son of Tommie Lee and Frances Caroline Coley Taylor. Proceeding him in death were his parents, two brothers Charles Deny Taylor and Larry Taylor and two nephews Deny Taylor and Scottie Taylor.

A life-long resident of Alma Georgia, J.L. (Jake to family and friends) married his sweetheart and wife of 57 years Freda Ann Stewart on November 26th, 1958. A dedicated and hard worker all his life he spent 40 years of his professional life working as a Service Technician with Sears, Roebuck and Company where he received numerous awards for his work and from where he retired in 1996. Prior to his illness he and Freda Ann spent the last twenty years traveling and camping across the United States, cruising the Panama Canal, the Caribbean and touring South America and Europe. In addition to working at Sears he also loved working on his farm and spending time with his family. He and Freda Ann spent many summers traveling with their grandchildren across the country as they had done with their daughter's years before. In 2008 JL and Freda found one of their favorite areas when they began spending their summers at Silver Lake Vermont where they served as the Camp Hosts.

James love of family, home and travel was only exceeded by his love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was ordained as a deacon at Friendship Baptist Church in 1965 and in addition to his service on the Board of Deacons, he also taught Sunday school, served as Sunday School Superintendent, Training Union Director as well as working with the children and countless committees and boards until his illness prevented his active involvement.

In addition to his loving wife, James is survived by his three daughters who loved him as well as being very much loved in return; Melissa "Lisa" Taylor, Jamie (Steve) Griffin, of Alma and Sherri (Marty) Anderson of Baxley, grandchildren Wade (Kim) Johnson, Brian (Tara) Griffin, Megan (Trenton) Smith, Michael (Brooke) Anderson, Tom Anderson, Hayden Anderson (Fiancé Emma Wilkerson), Zachary Griffin and Armando Martinez-Anderson (Fiancé Faith Lewis); Great grandchildren Cameron, Lillie and Jackson Johnson, Hadley and Barrett Griffin, and Grayson Smith. Three sisters Edith Johnson and Rhonda Taylor of Alma and Jean Taylor of Jesup, one brother Donald " Duck" Taylor of Alma.

Funeral services to honor his life will be held at Friendship Baptist Church in Alma Georgia on Monday March 28th at 11 AM. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will be receiving friends at the funeral home Sunday evening from 6 to 8 PM.

Grandchildren will serve as Active Pallbearers; serving as honorary pallbearers will be The Friendship Baptist Church Deacon Board and Wives, Bethany Hospice Employees, Melissa Madison, Consuela Staten and the Friendship Senior Adult Sunday School Class. Rev. Marty Anderson and Rev. Jimmy Miles will officiate the service. In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Bethany Hospice, Douglas, Georgia.

Crosby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.