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Dr. Phillip W “Phil” Taylor, Sr., 94, died Wednesday, April 25, 2019.

He was the son of the late John Richard Taylor and Sadie Wynne Taylor.

He was preceded in death by brothers, Marvin F Taylor and James R Taylor.

Dr. Taylor was a veteran of the US Army, serving during WWII. He was a member of Calvary United Methodist Church, where he taught Sunday school for over 40 years.

Dr. Taylor is survived by his wife, Joyce Williams Taylor of Littleton, NC; two sons, Phillip W Taylor, Jr. and wife, Marsha of Charlottesville, VA, Richard M Taylor and fiance,Tammy Weatherford of Boca Raton, FL; granddaughters, Clelie Taylor and wife, Melissa of Charlottesville, VA, and Laura Taylor of Boulder, CO; great-grandchildren, Isabella Perez and Taylor Swanton, of Boulder, CO; step-daughters, Stephanie Caldwell and husband Tom, of Garland, TX, and Merry Angela Gallo and husband Chris, of Emerald Isle, NC; step-grandchildren, Jon Mykich and wife Claire of Richmond, VA, Natalie Alvarez and husband Richard of Dallas, TX, Jonathan Frederick and wife, Jessica of Normal, IL and Jason Rodean of Charlotte, NC; step-great grandchildren, Eleanor Alvarez of Dallas, TX and Jaxon Mykich, of Richmond, VA.

A graduate of Aurelian Springs High School, Dr. Taylor got his undergraduate and doctorate degrees from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC.

Dr. Taylor taught vocational agriculture in Northampton and Pitt Counties and worked at Lenoir County Community College as dean of adult education.

He became founding president of Halifax County Technical Institute (HCTI) on February 1, 1968.

As HCTI president, he administered the establishment of the new school, surveyed the local population to determine educational program needs and hired staff and faculty for the new school.

Dr. Taylor dedicated 20 years of his professional career to the development of the Halifax Community College in Weldon, NC.

Under his leadership, the school’s curriculum grew from 2 programs to 37.

Its graduating students increased from 15 in 1968, to almost 5,000, for both GED and college degree programs.

On July 1, 1976, after adding two-year transfer programs to become a comprehensive community college, the Institute's name changed to Halifax Community College.

Dr. Taylor’s vision took a concept of a school and turned it into a prospering community college. During a ceremony on May 30, 2013, Building 100 at Halifax Community College was named the Dr. Phillip W Taylor Complex, in honor of their founding president.

Funeral services for Dr. Taylor will be held at 1 p.m., Friday, May 3, 2019 at Calvary United Methodist Church, 136 Calvary Church Rd, Littleton, NC. Burial will be in the church cemetery, followed by visitation and a reception in the Fellowship Hall.

Memorial contributions to Dr. Taylor can be made to Halifax Community College, 100 College Dr, Weldon, NC 27890.

Online condolences may be sent to hockadayfs.com

Arrangements are under the care of Hockaday Funeral and Cremation Service, Roanoke Rapids, NC