Raymond Mason Taylor

January 01, 1933 - March 26, 2018

Obituary For Raymond Mason Taylor

Raymond Mason Taylor passed away peacefully on Monday, March 26, 2018. He was born and raised by Thaddeus Raymond Taylor and Mary Ada Mason Taylor in Washington, North Carolina. He attended the public schools of Washington and graduated from high school in 1951.

He matriculated at the University of North Carolina and graduated from there with a BA degree in 1955. While studying at Chapel Hill, he was inducted into Pi Sigma Alpha, the honorary political science fraternity. After gradation he served in the United States Army in the Counter Intelligence Corps from 1955 to 1957. After his military service, he attended the Law School of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 1957 to graduation in 1960 when he received a Juris Doctor Degree. While at the University, he was inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece, and was elected as its President during the 1958-1959 year. After graduation, he clerked for the North Carolina Supreme Court.

He married the love of his life, Rachel High Taylor on April 3, 1965. They raised their daughter, Elizabeth Lee Taylor in Raleigh, where he was the Marshall and Librarian of the North Carolina Supreme Court from 1964 through 1977, and then engaged in the private practice of law until retirement. He was a lecturer of economics and business law at North Carolina State University from 1967 through 1985. He was honored as a Tar Heel of the Week in 1971.

He was a long-time member of the West Raleigh Rotary Club. He served as its President in 1992-1993 and he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. Raymond and Rachel were members of White Memorial Presbyterian Church, and he was a member of the Good Ole Boys and the North Carolina Bar Association.

Raymond was predeceased by Rachel in 2013, and he is survived by Elizabeth Lee Taylor Garber and her husband, Kenneth R. Garber, of High Point, and his grandsons, Andrew Thompson Garber, Ryan Taylor Garber, and Issac Preston Garber of High Point.

His service of the Witness to the Resurrection will be at White Memorial Presbyterian Church on Monday, April 2, 2018, at 11:00. The family will greet family and friends in the Jane Bell Gathering Place immediately following the service. There will be a graveside service following the service at Taylor Lot in Oakdale Cemetery, Fifteenth and Market Streets, Washington.

Services

TBD

Cemetery

Oakdale Cemetery 180 E 15th St Washington, NC 27889 Get Directions »

2 Apr

Funeral Service

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

White Memorial Presbyterian Church 1704 Oberlin Road RALEIGH, NC 27608 Get Directions »

2 Apr

Burial

03:00 PM

Oakdale Cemetery 180 E 15th St Washington, NC 27889 Get Directions »

by Obituary Assistant

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Condolences

September 01, 2020

susan owens

Dear Betsy, Thank you for letting me know about Raymond. He was a wonderful person and helped me so much during my career with the Court. Honest, witty, intelligent but most of all--dependable. He was a man of his word. He loved you and those three boys like no other grandfather I knew. He was certainly proud of you and often commented on how he didn't know how you taught school and raised the three boys. Please stay in touch. Your parents meant so much to us. susanfowens@yahoo.com
September 01, 2020

Roger Philyaw

I've known Raymond all my life, as my mother and Rachel were childhood friends and remained very close until Rachel's passing a few years back. Raymond made a point of staying in touch with my mother, and I would even get the occasional call about a special piece of music he'd heard that he wanted to pass along to her. Raymond was someone you could sit and listen to for a good while - so engaging, bright, friendly and down to earth. As I grew older, Raymond was always someone that I looked up to and respected a great deal - and I always looked forward to visiting he and Rachel in Raleigh, usually around the holidays. My mother's health isn't the best now, and I know she wanted to be at the services for Raymond, but she just can't travel. She cherished her relationship with both Rachel and Raymond - as they did with her. I just wanted to take a moment and let the family know that we are thinking of them, and that they are in our prayers. Roger Philyaw
September 01, 2020

Phillip Dixon

I worked for Raymond the summer before I entered law school at UNC. He mentored and inspired me. What a remarkable man! He left a lasting impression on me . I have always strived to be a better person and lawyer because of him. Prayers and condolences to his family and friends.
September 01, 2020

jessie cannon

Many good memories of your family, Betsy
September 01, 2020

Owen L Peele

Mr. Taylor was an inspiration. He taught me Business Law at NC State as a student. I enjoyed the class,. I enjoyed him more. His first words to me were, "Mr. Peele , I see you come form God`s Country." A Beaufort County native I am. The world is a better place because of all the lives he touched, especially mine. I am sorry for your loss, yet I encourage you to look eternally to a bright wonderful future in Jesus!! May Our Father bless.....
September 01, 2020

Bill Hale

Raymond Taylor was a wonderful teacher and mentor. While I was a senior at NC State, I enrolled in his Monday evening business law course to avoid working at the Student Supply Bar! How little did I know he would turn a dry subject matter into a fascinating introduction to law and jurisprudence. He is the reason I went to law school. I am forever grateful to Mr. Taylor for sharing his gift of making potentially boring material into an inspirational and stimulating subject. When he was the NC Supreme Court Marshal and Librarian, he took the time to talk with me about all kinds of legal matters. I will never forget the difference he made in my career. Bill Hale
September 01, 2020

Nancy S. Marks

Raymond has been a special friend forever! He was my campaign manager for student body president in high school. Due to his multiple organizational talents and ability to sway a large audience, he was responsible for electing the first ever female to this position! And so it was for his entire life, in high school, college, and later in his chosen profession. He quietly did for others and was a sterling example of both personal and professional ethics. Always first in his life were his beloved parents, wife, and daughter. He will be greatly missed, but those of us who knew him have been greatly blessed.
September 01, 2020

Pamela (Watkins) Rich

Lit a candle in memory of Raymond Mason Taylor
September 01, 2020

tom b brandon

First off, Betsy my apologies for my not knowing of your father's passing. Raymond was admired and respected by many people. I took his business law class at State before entering law school at Wake Forest...I'm like Mr. Peele herein who quoted him as saying that "I see you're from God's country..." myself being a native and rersident of Martin County, in Williamston, which is next to Bear Grass (both suberbs of Beaufort County) where many of Raymond's "Taylor" cousins hailed from. Another of his many valuable and favorite quotations, which is so applicable today, was "A little bit of learning is a dangerous thing." He was a great teacher and an inspiration to all students who crossed his path. The memory of his sense of humor and his intelligence will be something I will always value.