The obituary of William Gray Taylor.

Rocky Mount Telegram, 30 September 1988.

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In the 1910 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: on Rocky Mount Road, Mattie Taylor, 36, and children Gray, 14, Benjamin F., 8, Lee R., 7, Mary, 6, Annie, 2, and Hilliard, 6 months.

In 1917, Gray Taylor registered for the World War I draft in Wilson County. Per his registration card, he was born 1 December 1895 in Wilson County; lived in Stantonsburg, Wilson County; worked as a farm laborer for Albert Skinner; was single; and had gray eyes and light hair. He signed his card with an X.

On 30 April 1921, William Gray Taylor, 24, of Wilson County, son of Joe Pittman and Mattie Taylor, married Fannie Hardy, 19, of Wilson County, daughter of Allice Hardy, in Wilson. [Joseph J. Pittman (1875-1922) was a white farmer in the Saratoga area.]

In the 1930 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farmer Gray T. Taylor, 31; wife Fannie, 25; children Julias, 5, William, 3, Rebecca, 2, and Eunice, 2 months; and lodger Johnnie Bess, 20. [The family was erroneously listed as white.]

In the 1940 census of Saratoga township, Wilson County: farm laborer Gray Taylor, 42; wife Fannie, 26; and children Julias, 19, William A., 14, Rebetha, 12, Unice, 10, Russell, 8, William Irvin, 6, Bobbie G., 5, Bobbie Gene, 3, and Wallace, 7 months.

In the 1950 census of Gardners township, Wilson County: on Gardners Road, farmer Grey Taylor, 54; wife Fannie, 43; and children Eunice, 20, Russell, 17, William, 16, Bobby Grey, 14, Bobby Jean, 12, Helen, 10, Wallace, 8, and Grace Marie, 6; and Bernice, 8, lodger.

Fannie Taylor died 3 August 1961 in Stantonsburg township, Wilson County. Per her death certificate, she was born 27 August 1909 in Wilson County to Alice Hardy and was married to Gray Taylor.

William Gray Taylor (1896-1988).

13 comments

      1. Hi Lisa,
        This is Phyliss Whitaker class of 84 at Beddingfield. This is my Mr. Taylor is my Great-grandfather. Thank you for such informative information. Bernice Taylor is my mom. Mr. Taylor is actually my mom’s grandfather instead of father. They have her as a daughter since he helped to raise her.

    1. Hello Tim, William Gray Taylor was my grandfather and Fannie Hardy Taylor was my grandmother. My name is Helen Dixon Mercer. Please call me @ 252 291 9868 or 252 245 4611. Thanks we’re are in North Carolina.

  1. Lisa, Julius Taylor was my grandfather. No one has ever been able to give me the gift of who I am before. I don’t have the words to express how grateful I am to see the work that you’ve done!!!

  2. Hi Lisa. Thank you for researching this information. William was my great grandfather. We called him Pa. It’s really great to see the photo of his mother Mattie Taylor also. Thanks again:-)

      1. You are doing a fantastic job Lisa! We all appreciate your hard work. You are touching so many lives.

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