Gerald W. Taylor, 84

August 5, 1940 – June 15, 2025

On Sunday afternoon, June 15, 2025, our beloved father, friend and Barber, Gerald W. Taylor, 84, lifelong resident of Ripley, departed this life peacefully at Tippah County Hospital.

Funeral Services honoring the life of Gerald will be at 1PM Wednesday, June 18 in The Heritage Chapel of Ripley Funeral Home with his friend and “Golf Buddy”, Bro. Jeff Moore officiating. Visitation will be from 12 noon until 1 PM at The Ripley Funeral Home. Burial will follow in the Peoples Cemetery.

Gerald was born on August 5, 1940, in the Peoples Community of Tippah County and was the youngest of ten children of the late Howard and Sara Robbins Taylor. He was a graduate of Falkner High School with a dream of becoming a history teacher and coach, however, his calling was to go to the Memphis Barber School. At City Barber, Gerald gave friends and clients all the juiciest gossip, history and news as well as a platform to discuss the issues of the day for 67 years.

A very active member of West Ripley Baptist Church, Gerald proudly served in the Mississippi National Guard. When he decided to take a day off or even a half day, one could find him at the golf course playing some holes with Bro. Jeff Moore. In earlier years, Gerald enjoyed archery, basketball and playing softball with West Ripley Baptist Church with his best friend, the late James Harrison. Growing up in a large family, he enjoyed family gatherings so he could visit, eat good food and talk about family history.

In 67 years at City Barber Shop, Gerald has styled, trimmed, shaved and cut many generations, young and old, of friends, family and strangers as well as laughed, advised, listened and talked. As Gerald would always say……”The greatest minds in Ripley hang out in my shop”.  He will be greatly missed by his family and community.

Memories will be cherished by his wife of 62 years, Norma Robinson Taylor and his two daughters, Amelia Ladreyt and Melissa Taylor of Ripley.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by six sisters, Inez Box, Annie Reeves, Nyleen Bridges, Tishie Childers, Jeanette Huebshmann and Myrtle Mitchell and three brothers, Vernon, James Cleatus and Charles Vance Taylor.

Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.

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