James Robert Taylor

James “Jim” Robert Taylor, known to many as Saucy of Grantsboro, NC went to be with his Lord on January 4, 2020. He was 81 years old and was surrounded by his family in his home when he passed.

You could always find Jim around the New Bern Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, selling his award-winning barbeques sauce, Taylor’s Southern Pride”. He took pride in his sauce and it was his passion. He loved the market and all the people there. Jim was a family man and valued his time with them. Growing up, his children recall yearly family vacations and countless weeknight and Sunday dinners. Jim loved to tell a good joke and always had one. His family was important, and everyone knew it. From picking up his kids at school to picking up grandkids and watching them throughout the years. He was so proud of all of them. His great-grandchildren were even more special to him. He would see them, and his eyes would light up and he would smile. Bragging about his family was something you would find him doing often. More important than his family though, was God’s word. You could always find him sitting daily reading his Bible, until he was unable to do so.

Jim was born in Hannibal, MO in 1938 and moved to Homestead, FL during his childhood and that is where he met his wife of 52 years, Janice Mayo Taylor. They moved to her hometown at the beginning of their marriage and started their family. He was preceded in death by his parents “Zip” and Ruth Taylor.

He is survived by his wife and their three children, Teresa Taylor, Tammy (John) Staten, and Ginger (Chip Dickinson); grandchildren, Tiffany (Blake Dunbar), Amanda (Braxton) Bettis, Brandon (Michaela) Broughton, and Dale Dickinson; great-grandchildren, Drake and Harper Dunbar, and Adaley and Lyam Bettis.

Visitation will be held prior to the funeral on January 8 ^th at 10:00 a.m., at Rock of Zion Free Will Baptist Church in Grantsboro, NC. The funeral will be officiated by Rev. Ray Lewis at 11:00 a.m., also at Rock of Zion, with graveside service following at Paul’s Cemetery in Arapahoe, NC.

In lieu of flowers, prayerfully consider donating to Rock of Zion Free Will Baptist Church,