Taylor dedicated life to help others

Long time public servant dies; not forgotten

Ken Taylor is being remembered as a person who dedicated his life to helping others not only as a public servant for the residents of Escambia County (Ala.), but to all who knew him.

Taylor, 73, the long-serving clerk-administrator for the county commission and circuit clerk of the county died Wednesday, Dec. 28 in Birmingham.

Taylor moved to Brewton in 1971 to serve as chief clerk in the circuit clerk's office under his uncle James Taylor. He served as the county clerk-administrator from 1973 to January, 1995, when he was elected as the county's circuit clerk. Taylor served as the circuit clerk until his retirement in 2013.

Tony Sanks, who followed Taylor as the county's clerk-administrator, said Taylor took him under his wing when he followed Taylor.

"He's the hardest working man I ever met," Sanks said. "And no doubt the finest man I ever met."

Sanks said Taylor was patient and was willing to help anyone.

"It's hard to find the words to described him," Sanks said. "He was kind, considerate and he looked at things from more than one point of view and sized it up accurately."

Sanks said he 'shadowed' Taylor from October, 1994, until January, 1995 when Sanks took over as the clerk-administrator and he continued to stay in Taylor's shadow for many years.

"He was patient in teaching me how things worked," Sanks said. "Even after he was elected circuit clerk I wore a path out back and forth to his office seeking advice. I can't imagine doing this job without him sharing his knowledge."

"Even though he had his brand new job to learn he didn't mind helping me and he never acted like he was too busy to answer my questions," Sanks said.

John Robert Fountain, who followed Taylor as the county's circuit clerk, echoed Sanks' sentiments on how helpful Taylor was to him.

Prior to running for circuit clerk, Fountain worked 11 years as a juvenile probation officer and spent a lot of time in the clerk's office.

After Fountain was elected circuit clerk in November, 2013, he didn't take office until January, 2014. Fountain said he spent that time in the clerk's office learning from Taylor.

"What he did for me could never be replaced," Fountain said. "I'd come in, sit down with Ken and learn the ropes. He was very kind."

"I absorbed everything I could from him in those three months," Fountain said.

Fountain added that during his first two years in office "I burned the phone up" getting advice from and asking questions of Taylor.

"I called him for the next two years," Fountain said. "He was an open book of knowledge."

Fountain said Taylor's wife Patsy, who handled absentee voting in the clerk's office, was also very helpful in showing him the ropes on elections and passports.

"They were both invaluable to me," Fountain said. "The thing that set Ken apart was his love of the office and the people who worked there. He also loved Escambia County."

"Ken was a working clerk and this is not a figure head job," Fountain said. "That's how he worked for 18 years while he was here and that's how he wanted it to continue."

Fountain said Taylor helped him get over the hump of learning a new job and it's something he'll never forget.

"Some people may tell you 'call me any time' but Ken meant it," Fountain said. "The only thing he told me was to not give out his cell phone number. By helping me he was still serving the people of Escambia County. I'll never be able to fill Ken Taylor's shoes but I will always be grateful for his help and support."

Taylor lived in Brewton for 40 years before moving to Atmore and for the past six years was a member of the First United Pentecostal Church in Monroeville.

Taylor's funeral was held Monday, Jan. 2, at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. David Cooper officiating. He was buried at Miller Cemetery.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Austin (Callie Johnson) Taylor and two brothers, Richard 'Teak' Taylor and Albert 'AB' Taylor.

He is survived by his wife Patsy English Taylor of Atmore; one son, Justin (Tiffany) Taylor of Trussville, Ala.; two daughters, Jan (Brandon) Rivers of Ponchatoula, La., and Jill Taylor of Atmore; one brother, Rodney 'Rod' (JoAnn) Taylor of Uriah; one sister, Shelia (Steve) Pugh of Walnut Hill; and five grandchildren.