Madison County community remembering Coach Jerry Taylor’s legacy

MADISON COUNTY, Ala. ( WHNT ) — The Madison County community is mourning the loss of a beloved father, friend, teacher and coach.

“He loved sports so much, and that definitely was his passion: coaching them,” said Emileigh Taylor, coach’s Granddaughter

Jerry Taylor, commonly known as “coach,” passed away on Wednesday, July 31st. However, his legacy and impact on those he interacted with live on.

“I’m sure he probably couldn’t go into the grocery store without seeing four or five people that he knew,” said family friend Jeff Malone.

Taylor coached at Monrovia and Riverton schools, leading teams for over 35 years, but his specialty was basketball.

“The last thing that he said to me was ‘I should have put you in basketball,’ so he very much was a coach,” said Emileigh Taylor.

She shared that after her mom passed away, Jerry Taylor legally adopted her. Taylor touched the lives of many, not just family.

“I would say anybody in the Riverton community that’s anywhere between 32 and 52 probably had him as a coach for basketball, coach for baseball, maybe a PE teacher, maybe some kind of a mentor,” said Malone.

He was a former player of Taylor’s but also grew up with his son, Kent.

“I knew him as a friend’s dad, but then I also got to know him as a coach and a teacher as well,” said Malone.

Taylor led his team to countless championships and was even inducted into the Huntsville-Madison County Athletic Hall of Fame. But he did more than win with his players – he impacted them for a lifetime.

“I can’t think of my elementary, middle school years without thinking the coach Taylor,” Malone said.

When asked if she had anything to add to her grandfather’s story, Emileigh Taylor’s response was simple.

“I feel like he would want me to say, ‘roll tide,'” she exclaimed.

The funeral service information for Jerry Taylor can be found in his obituary .

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