LOVELL, William Taylor - age 69 of Birmingham passed away at his home, surrounded by his wife and two daughters, on Friday, February 18, 2022. Taylor was born February 17, 1953 in Lexington Kentucky to the late John Thomas and Emma Lovell. He attended the University of Georgia, where his competitive spirit developed as a member of the Georgia Bulldogs Basketball team. Taylor excelled on and off the court, earning recognition as a Letterman in Academic Excellence from the Georgia Alumni Association his senior year. After graduating in 1975, Taylor began his career as a high school teacher and basketball coach in Warner Robbins and Dublin, GA. His continued desire to learn and understand the world around him revealed a fascination and acumen for the analysis of financial markets, that ultimately led him into a successful career in Financial Services with W.N. Estes, E.F. Hutton, J.C. Bradford, Morgan Keegan, and Sterne Agee. He retired as Chief Marketing Officer of ProEquities in 2016.
Although a man of many interests and accomplishments, Taylor’s true passion was his family. Through all the changes and challenges in his life and career, there were two constants: his commitment to his faith, and his unyielding love and devotion for his beloved wife of 45 years, Kathy. From college sweethearts, through making a life and raising a family together, Taylor’s adoration and respect for Kathy only grew stronger. He rightfully credited Kathy as his rock, and never hesitated to express his love, admiration, and appreciation for her as a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. He equally beamed with pride in his two daughters, Jessica and Ashley. Although a “man’s man” by any measure, he truly excelled as a “girl dad.” He shared his love of golf with his daughters at an early age. If you saw a strikingly tall silhouette, followed by his two smaller partners dragging their golf bags down the fairway at sunset, that would be Taylor and his girls. Always the teacher, the lessons he passed on during their many hours on the course went well beyond golf and instilled the foundations of strong character he knew were necessary to prepare them for life. No matter the undertaking, whether during their times as collegiate golfers or their professional career achievements and personal milestones as adults, no daughter has ever had a more loyal supporter or bigger fan. There was likewise no hiding the true joy reflected in “Big T’s” smiling face as he watched the development and antics of his grandchildren, Taylor Jean and Miles. The hallmark of Taylor’s life was love; for his God, his family, his friends, and his dog Chipper (the only other male in the house).
Taylor led a life well lived and well loved. Taylor’s example of commitment, determination, kindness and unconditional love are his legacy that will live on through those who survive him: his wife and “#1 babe,” Kathy Jean VanHoozier Lovell; his daughters, Jessica Lovell and Ashley Lovell Messenger (Mark); the precious grandchildren he adored, Taylor Jean and Miles Jack Messenger; brother, John Thomas Jr. Lovell (Susan Henry); brother-in-law, Carl Jr. VanHoozier (Gail); nieces and nephews, John Thomas Lovell III (Kristin), Susan Mason Paoli (Darin), Kendall VanHoozier Tope (Hunter) and Erin VanHoozier; and an abundance of friends and loved ones.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 24, 2022, at Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church, where he and Kathy have been longtime members. Interment to follow at Southern Heritage Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd. Houston, TX 77030 or Oak Mountain Presbyterian Church, 5080 Cahaba Valley Trace, Birmingham, AL 35242. The family will receive friends beginning at 1:00 p.m., preceding funeral services.
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