Carl Joseph Taylor Jr.

Carl Joseph Taylor, Jr., known to his family and friends as Joe, was born on August 18, 1954, in Montgomery, Alabama. He passed away on January 27, 2026, after a brave battle with cancer.

Joe is survived by his wife of 46 years, Betty “Laurie” Taylor; his daughters, Tiffany Lawrence and Lindsey Self (Ken); his parents, Carl J. Taylor, Sr., and Sara Broadwater Taylor; his brother, Allen Taylor (Deebe); and grandson, Oliver Lawrence.

Joe earned his master’s degree at Auburn University, where he met his wife, Laurie, at the Auburn Christian Student Center. He served as Captain in the United States Air Force. His deployments included Iceland and Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War, where he served in Operation Desert Storm. After his service, Joe and Laurie resided in Douglas, Georgia, Collierville, Tennessee, and McDonough, Georgia, where they made lifelong friendships and memories. After Joe’s retirement from Southern Crescent Technical College in 2019, they settled in Pace, Florida.

Joe was a devout Christian, serving as an Elder at McDonough Church of Christ and, most recently, as the Deacon of Involvement at Margaret Street Church of Christ. He loved his church family dearly and spent his retirement serving others through various ministries. He continuously sought out ways he could serve others, even during his sickness.

Joe found joy in staying active and took pride in keeping things well-organized. He loved the outdoors and staying active, whether walking, hiking, biking, pulling weeds with Oliver, or heading to the gym. An avid gun collector, he also spent many hours at the shooting range. Meticulous to a fault, Joe was also known for his legendary spreadsheets, carefully cataloging everything from bills to his ammo and gun collection.

Joe cherished his family and friends and would do anything for them. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Margaret Street Church of Christ to continue their evangelistic efforts.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, February 2, 2026, at National Cremation and Burial Society, 5641 US-90, Milton, Florida. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, with the service following at 11:00am. The Graveside and Interment will be held at 1:00 pm at Barrancas National Cemetery, Naval Air Station Pensacola, with military honors.