Van Philpot Taylor

Van studied at North Panola High School, where he was active in student government, basketball, football and track. Then he transferred to Marion Institute in Alabama. After graduation, he was accepted into Mississippi State University and pledged SAE and there he studied biology before transferring to Southwestern (Rhodes) College where he was the recipient of a Bachelors in Science.

He spent many childhood summers at one of his favorite places, Lookout Mountain Camp for Boys in Mentone, Ala. Van returned to become a counselor there where he taught swimming, tennis, and other sports. He was an advanced carver of wood, an artist, and he completed hundreds of bowls for people in his community, mostly cousins and very special people received his hand carved bowls. Van was proud of his work but also humble about the amount of money people wanted to pay him, always thinking people wanted to pay him too much.

In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his maternal grandparents, Dr. Van Buren Philpot (Lois) from Holly Springs, MS; paternal grandparents, Arthur Taylor (Corrinne) of Como, MS; a nephew, Arthur Taylor Boyd of Columbia, SC. Survivors include his siblings, Dr. Art Taylor of Winston-Salem, NC, Lee Taylor Boyd of Columbia, SC, Kenneth Taylor, of MS; many cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Sledge Taylor for providing pastures for his horses. Van wanted to thank Como Methodist Church for their continued prayers and for sending so many messages and cards to him. Van has much appreciation to Bobby and Mary Lipscomb for the many gestures of help throughout his lifetime and during his sickness. I’m pretty sure that Mary Lipscomb spent hundreds of hours in Whole Foods in Memphis with Van searching for organic or other odd food items. The family would also like to thank the PRISMA PACE Program and Cooper Wall for his unwavering support to Van and Lee during this time.

A service will be held 11:00 am Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at Como Methodist Church in Como, MS.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the PRISMA PACE Program, 1100 Shirley St, Columbia, SC 29205 or to Como Methodist Church, 101 N Main St, Como, MS, 38619.

Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, Columbia, S.C., assisted the family.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.