John A. Taylor

John A. (Aubrey) Taylor, 70, of Alpharetta, Georgia left this world we know on December 3, 2018. John was born September 15, 1948 in Toccoa, Georgia, the son of Hubert Taylor and Cressie Lee DeFoor Taylor, also born in Toccoa. John lived in numerous locations around the state of Georgia primarily due to his father's career. As a young boy growing up in Toccoa, he spent many happy days on his grandfather's dairy farm eating only the fresh flesh of the watermelons, drinking milk fresh from the cows, and having the run of the farm and countryside. When his family moved to Augusta, he attended Richmond Academy from which he graduated. The father of a best friend was the grounds keeper for the Augusta National Golf Club. This led to John working there part-time and in the summers, including being on the small crew that refurbished, and left their initials on, the famous 12th hole bridge. He took pride in maintaining the beautiful landscaping for which the golf course is famous and regularly driving Bobby Jones' personal golf cart when not in use. In his youth, he also lived in Athens, Clayton, and Cornelia; and as an adult he lived in Roswell, Macon, Atlanta and Stone Mountain before relocating to Alpharetta in 1984. As a Toccoa native, John was especially proud of the success of his Toccoa-born cousin, actor DeForest Kelley, known as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in Star Trek. A special treasure was hand-written correspondence he received from him. Dated February 27, 1967 on Star Trek stationary, it shows Desilu Productions, Inc. as the return address. DeForest cites Gene Roddenberry as producer - creator and states, "We are hopeful that a second season will be ours." The rest is history. John earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Berry College in Rome, Georgia. Most of his career was with the Georgia Power Company, serving last as North Metro Human Resources Manager. Two of John's favorite pastimes were eating traditional southern cooking and traveling with his wife, Victoria. They traveled extensively throughout America, the United Kingdom, and Europe. John's favorite was going to Germany, especially between Thanksgiving and Christmas. They would stay in Munich, taking the trains to various towns with Christmas markets throughout Bavaria, enjoying the indigenous foods and specialties. John was always known for his quick wit and humor. If you were lucky enough to see that side of him, he would often keep you laughing for hours. He loved all the dogs he had through the years, with his favorite being his last, a bossy Yorkshire Terrier named R.J. Gabriella (Gabi). John once told Victoria that "she" (Victoria) was "the other woman" with Gabi being number one. John is survived by his loving wife of 38 years, Victoria Currie Taylor; his brother, Paul Lee Taylor (Judy), his nieces Cassie Taylor Potts (Tony) and Charisse Taylor Durham (Jon), two great nephews, and three great nieces, all of Rome, Georgia. His surviving in-laws include mother-in-law Mary Shadle Currie of Orlando, Florida and brother-in-law Dr. David M. Currie of Winter Park, Florida. John was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Dr. C. Michael Currie of Tupelo, Mississippi. In lieu of flowers, please donate in memory of John A. Taylor to the Georgia Baptist Children's Home in Palmetto, Georgia or to Berry College in Rome, Georgia.