James Taylor

James Robert "Jimmy" Taylor, a kind and gentle soul, a true-storyteller, and a faithful follower of Jesus, died Tuesday, September 16, 2025 in his happy home of 50 years surrounded by his loving family.

He had turned 89 the week before on September 12.

Born and raised in eastern NC, Jimmy Taylor was as authentic and honest as a person could be. He cherished God, family, hard-work, and simple pleasures and understood the value of a good story. As his children and grandchildren grew, he was involved in all of their activities: coaching them, cheering them on, and attending every school or community event possible. After he retired, he was continuously involved in sports activities at Sacred Heart Cathedral School and Cardinal Gibbons High School mentoring and coaching hundreds of kids and touching more hearts and lives than could be measured.

A long-time friend described him as "one of the characters you meet in life that you never forget" and he was definitely one-of-a-kind in the eyes of those who met him. You never quite knew what was coming from him next: whether it was an impromptu ballet routine to entertain his family or a story that spoke to a truth others were afraid to voice. Jimmy Taylor never met a stranger and he never knew how to be anything other than himself.

Jimmy Taylor's greatest loves in life were his wife, Peggy, who he had loved for 67 years, his devoted family, and Dr. Pepper.

Retired Staff Sergeant Taylor was an Army veteran (active duty and National Guard) and a retired Registered Nurse and Geriatric Nurse Practitioner having worked at the VA, Central Prison, and Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Hospital. He was a current member of the American Legion and Knights of Columbus, as well as an avid golfer, fisherman and sports enthusiast.

Jimmy is survived by his wife, Margaret "Peggy" Anne Markwalter Taylor; children, John "Jay" Davis [Marlise], James "Jim" Jarvis [Linda], Katherine "Katie" Anne Altieri [Tom], Mary Elizabeth, and Joseph "Joe" Robert [Julie]; sixteen grandchildren, Katherine "Maggie" Cirnitski [Kevin], Samantha Darlington [Joey], James "Jimmy" Taylor [Jessie], Edward Altieri [Jackie], William Taylor [Megan], Catherine "Kat" Taylor, Andrew Altieri, Mary Hollis Taylor, Caleb Darlington, Luke Taylor, Julie Altieri, Johnny Taylor, Jacob Darlington, Benjamin Taylor, Marc Taylor, and Charlie Taylor; two great-grandchildren, Cece and Rosie; sister, Hazel Fox [Ken] and many nieces, nephews, and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jarvis and Lessie Nell [Broughton] Taylor, and his first son, James Robert Taylor Jr. who died in infancy.

A visitation will be held at 6:00 pm, Tuesday, September 23, 2025 at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, 831 Wake Forest Road, Raleigh. Funeral services will be on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 10 am at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral in Raleigh and burial to follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or to the charity of your choice.