Charles "Chris" Christian Taylor

Charles Christian “Chris” Taylor, 77, of Atlanta, Georgia passed peacefully on August 21st, 2024 surrounded by his family from the comfort of his home.

Chris was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1947 to Donald Quee Taylor and Anne Whitehead Taylor. Chris loved his family and his God above anything else in his life and served both humbly. Those who met Chris for the first time observed a dry sense of humor matched with a sly grin, a blue checked shirt, and a gate akin to a gentle giant. Those who knew Chris most closely knew a highly empathetic man. He could sense in people what they needed to find comfort before they knew it themselves. A walking Encyclopedia, or as a great friend once joked, a compendium of useless knowledge.

As a boy, summers at Camp Seagull sailing, trips to the family farm outside of Charlottesville, VA to visit his grandparents, and an affection for reading defined his formative years.

Chris attended Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia, where he was a second-generation legacy. Chris credited Episcopal with teaching him many of the principles and lessons that shaped the life he tried to lead. His persistent curiosity was enhanced in Alexandria, although Chris would also credit Episcopal for assuring him a professional football or wrestling career was not in his future. But it was also here that Chris met one of his longest and dearest friends, Terry Thurman, who would one day introduce Chris to the love of his life, Julia.

Following his time at Episcopal, Chris made his way down to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to attend the University of North Carolina. To satisfy his voracious appetite for reading, Chris majored in both English and History. Chris would be the first to admit that he enrolled in the extended program at UNC and found time to develop a long-time affection for the Tarheels. Though the Tarheels were his first love, he was indoctrinated by force into the Georgia Bulldog fandom, and soon became a regular in Sanford Stadium in the fall, his Carolina blue button-down making him easy to spot in the crowd.

Chris got his start in the transportation and logistics industry with Mercedes-Benz trucks (Freightliner). He was fascinated with German engineering and enthusiastically marveled at the “over-engineered” components of German vehicles like a kid in a candy store. He eventually found a home with Isuzu, where he spent 28 years.

Though he took great pride in his career, he would be the first to say his greatest joy was his family. Despite a demanding work schedule, Chris always found time to attend all of Christian and Anne Hamilton’s games, and he was no stranger to a late-night study session the night before a history or English test.

Chris was preceded in death by his parents Donald Quee Taylor and Anne Whitehead Taylor, his father- and mother-in-law, Thomas Hamilton Milner, Jr. and Agnes White Milner, and his brother-in-law, Dr. Thomas Hamilton Milner III.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Julia Milner Taylor; his son Charles Christian “BT” Taylor (Anna Johnson Taylor), and granddaughter Emma Sheffield Taylor; his daughter, Anne Hamilton Taylor; his sister Anne Taylor (David Kimball); his brother-in-law, James Gilbert Milner (Beth Hally Milner); his niece Katharine Milner Warbinton (Tanner Warbinton); sister-in-law, Geri Milner; his nephews Thomas Hamilton “Buddy” Milner IV (Wendy Milner), Gilbert Bradshaw Milner, John Tidwell Milner and their children.

A service will be held at The Cathedral of St. Philip at 10am ET on Wednesday, August 28th. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Atlanta Chapter of the Salvation Army.