Sidney Taylor Obituary

A faithful and devoted soldier of the Cross, Dr. Rev. Sidney Lanier Taylor, Jr., laying down his battle's armor has received his eternal victory and everlasting reward on Monday, January 25, 2016. Pastor Sid, 79, is the beloved husband of Mary Sue Cameron Tanner-Taylor, and the widower of Karissa Joy "Kay" Canady Taylor.

Rev. Taylor was born the son of Sidney Lanier Taylor, Sr. and Mary Helen Davis Taylor on March 2, 1936 in Charleston. He was a 1954 graduate of Sidney Lanier High School and received a Business Degree in 1959 from Auburn University. He was a former Sales Representative with Playtex Industries and Ingall's Ship Building. Rev. Taylor began his ministerial journey as a Southern Baptist Minister on July 27, 1980 receiving Ministerial Licenses followed by Ordination on January 19, 1983, through Emmanuel Baptist Church, Ocean Springs, MS. As a "workman that needeth not to be ashamed," Pastor Sid was faithful and studious through the increasing of his knowledge of God's Word earning a Masters of Religious Education on July 25, 1986 and Doctor of Ministry from College of Lake Charles on June 11, 2004. He was the founder of Justice Ministries - Prison Evangelism Outreach, Inc. (a prison ministry reaching national and international prisons). He was the author of the Justice Bible Study - a prison bible study which has had over 1 million copies distributed nationally and internationally.

His pastoral ministry spanned several states including: in Mississippi- Jackson County Adult Detention Center, Success Baptist Church, Temple Baptist Church, Olivet Baptist Church, First Baptist Church Orange Grove, Biloxi Jail Ministry; and in South Carolina, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, Bloomingvale Baptist Church, and Rose Hill Baptist Church.

On March 25, 2006, Sid and Mary Sue were united in Holy Matrimony joining two homes into one family. Their home was blessed with five children, Karissa Lynn "Krisie" (Steve) T. Brown, Melissa T. (Mike) Poulin; Sidney Lanier "Trace" (Shannon) Taylor, III, Kara T. (Mike) VanDerHeyden, and Norton J. (Samantha) Tanner; twelve grandchildren, Taylor, Leigh (David) Seibert, Aimee, Sydney, Noah, Ben, Kate, Mary, Samuel, Dana, Ella, and Lilly.

He was predeceased by his parents; his first wife; a brother; a son, Perry C. Tanner; and granddaughter, Chelsea Tanner.

A Home Going Celebration with Ministerial Recognition will be 2 PM, Friday, January 29, 2016, at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the church cemetery directed by the Hemingway Chapel of McKenzie Funeral Home.

Visitation will be 6-8 PM, Thursday, January 28, 2016, in the church sanctuary.

Memorial may be made to the Justice Ministries, PO Box 3353, Pawleys Island, SC 29585.

McKenzie Funeral Home is honored to serve the Taylor and Tanner families.