JAMES W. "Jay" TAYLOR, age 78 years of Darlington, Maryland died at the Upper Chesapeake Medical Center in Bel Air on Sunday, January 17, 2010, one week after the death of his beloved wife, Melba V. Taylor.

Mr. Taylor was born in Bland County, Virginia on June 12, 1931 a son of the late Arthur Granville and Perlie (Roop) Taylor. A truck driver, he began his career in Galax, Virginia in 1952 with the Blue Ridge Transfer Company. He moved to Harford County in 1953 to work for the Blue Ridge Baltimore office and then began delivering sod for Harford Sod Company, a position he held for 14 years. Mr. Taylor then went to work with E. Stewart Mitchell, Inc. in Baltimore where he remained for 28 years prior to his first �retirement� in 1998, yet continuing to drive for the company on a part time basis. Over his more than 45 year full time career, Mr. Taylor logged more than 3 million miles, all without an accident or a moving violation. In 1997, he was designated by the Maryland State Police as the Maryland Driver of the Year. He was also presented with an award by the Maryland Motor Truck Association and the Maryland Transportation Authority Police in addition to a citation from former Governor Glendening. He was recognized by the Safety Council of Maryland and the U.S. Dept. of Transportation and designated as Driver of the Year by the Federal Highway Administration and the Maryland House of Delegates.

Mr. Taylor was a longtime member of the Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, Street, Maryland. He and his late wife, with the support of Kim and David Stewart of E. Stewart Mitchell, Inc. and Cornerstone Church, made several trips each year to Bluefield, West Virginia delivering donated school supplies and Christmas gifts of clothing and toys.

Mr. Taylor is survived by:

Four children: James Douglas Taylor of Putnam, Connecticut

Patricia Lee Eller of Bel Air

Gary Wayne Taylor of Darlington

Cathy Ellen Axelson of Darlington

Two sisters: Mae Ritter of Dublin, Virginia

Hazel Corbin of Street, Maryland

Two brothers: George Dillman of Bluffton, Indiana

William Osborne of Salem, Virginia

He is also survived by eleven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 20 at 11:00 a.m. at the Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church, 3135 Dublin Road, Street, MD 21154.

His pastor, Reverend Tracy J. Duvall will officiate.

Interment will be in Bel Air Memorial Gardens.

A viewing will be held at the church on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate contributions to the church Memorial Fund at the above address.