Alvis Taylor

Rev. Alvis W. Taylor, age 94, of Tuscaloosa, passed away on January 22, 2021 surrounded by a heavenly host of angels and people who loved him. Services will be held at Magnolia Chapel South funeral home on Sunday January 31, 2021 starting at two o' clock in the afternoon, there will be a concert in song of the old hyms he loved so much. At two - thiry in the afternoon, Rev. James Walker and Rev. Mark Aills will officiate the service. Closing remarks will be given graeside by Rev. Taylor's nephew, Rev. Arthur Thomas. Due to COVID, graveside services will be restricted to immediate family only and there will be no visitation prior to the services.Rev. Taylor will be laid to rest at Memory Hill Gardens next to Memory Chapel funeral home next to his father alvin Taylor, mother Julia Pearl Taylor, and two sisters Dean Franklin (Jack), and Eloise Stripling (Henry). A third sister Jeanette Crenshaw (Rev. Charles) is laid to rest in Selma, Alabama.

Rev. Taylor is survived by a loving wife of 71 years Flora O'Dell Taylor of Taylorville and three children Sherry D. Peery (Jerry), Roger W. Taylor (Diane), and Rick D. Taylor. He is also survived by five grandchildren Winter Hodge (Josh), Zach Taylor (Haven), Hunter Taylor (Fallon), Ashli Hunnicutt (Tyler), and Chelsi Aceves (Ronald), as well as nine beautiful great grandchildren Braxton, Elliott, Searcy, MayMay, Mills, Brantleigh, Arden, Hattie Jo, and Samuel. He deeply loved all of his grandchildren as they loved him.

Rev. Taylor was the son of a carpenter from Hale County. After meeting the beautiful Flora O'Dell Cook they were marriedand moved to Tuscaloosa. Joining the Cook family gave Rev. Taylor a large and close extended family. They vacationed together and spent all their holidays together. These gatherings grew to be a hundred plus just from the Cook family. He joined BF Goodrich company and served there 38 years. In his words, he never had a bad day there and could perform over a hundred diffrent jobs in the plant. He pulled many twelve hour shiftsto support the family he loved so much.

In 1976, while still working at BF Goodrich , he was invited to speak at a rural church in the Spencer Community of Brent, Alabama in Bibb County. The small church fell in love with him and asked him to come be their pastor and shepard. This was such an honor to him and he began to study to become an ordained minister. Word rippled throught the countryside by friends and family that Rev. Alvis Taylor accepted the invitation to pastor Spencer Nazarene Church. As Sundays rolled on, the word was all about Rev. Taylor and his sermons. Many relatives, new and old friends, his children, and children's friends beganto make their way to Spencer Church to hear Rev. Taylor speak. He would preach with a big smile and angelic face. Most Sundays the church was a roar with laughter from his southern way of words. He would speak about his precious Jesus that saved him years ago and the joy he had of serving Him. The community began to hear the buzz and join the Spencer congregation. Good times were enjoyed at Spencer Church. As the son of a carpenter, he began church renovations of adding new wings, a fellowship hall, and paved the parking lot. Rev. Taylor spent many hours on his knees praying for his flock and the Spencer Community. Rev. Taylor had enormous respect for the house of God and the sanctuary. He and his wife, Flora, spent their Saturdays visiting in the community, making sure all the song books were in place, vacuuming the floors, and adorning the church with large flower arrangements of roses, etc. that they
grew at their home in Taylorville. Flora was always at his side and walked every step with him. Rev. Taylor retired in 2005 from the church after 29 years of service. They joined First Nazarene Church on Patriots Parkway in Tuscaloosa. He was a lover of the model prayer, The Lord's prayer, and old hyms which will be reflected in the celebration of his life.

Pallbearers will be Zach Taylor, Hunter Taylor, Braxton Taylor, Jerry Peery, Tyler Hunnicutt, Ronald Aceves, Ronnie Henry, Doug Henry, Dennis Henry, and Mills Williams. Honorary pallbearers are Hall-Taylor Construction Company employees, the Spencer Nazarene community and church, First Church of the Nazarene, Taylorville Heights Community, BF Goodrich employees, and hundreds of friends and family that preceded him in death.

Mask and social distancing will be required. Thank you for helping us in this matter as we deal with COVID.