Taylor O’Brien Pratt

Taylor was born on a Sunday afternoon, April 14, 1985, at Riverside Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, and was baptized at Mandarin Presbyterian Church that same year. The family moved to Marietta in 1988, and Taylor attended Marietta City Schools and First Presbyterian Church where he was a member of the August 1993 confirmation class. 

Taylor had various jobs over the years…. including a photographer’s assistant, dishwasher at the Wednesday night suppers at First Pres, cashier at Eckerd’s and his favorite job of all…..a cart boy at Bentwater Golf Club. He graduated from East Paulding High School in May 2003. Taylor attended Marine Mechanics Institute in Orlando and worked at Lowe’s Home Improvement store.  He was on target to graduate from MMI in November 2005, and his future plans were to return to north Georgia…to live and work at a marina on the lake.  He was home for Christmas break, scheduled to return to Orlando the next day at the time he passed away.

Taylor was 6’7”, and his nicknames were Biggin’, Big T, Tater, and Tay.  He is remembered by many as ‘The Gentle Giant’.  His hobbies were cars and anything outdoors including golf, fishing and hunting. Taylor loved everyone...especially children and the elderly.  And they loved him as he showed patience, kindness and compassion.  As Taylor was growing up, he spent a great deal of time in Cedartown with his grandparents.  Here he could spend his days hunting with Mr. Fendley, fishing with the Ingram’s and riding the country side with GiGi in the little red truck….always coming back home to his favorite….NaNa’s rice and gravy.

After the family moved to Bentwater in 2002, he quickly considered the residents in “the hood”….especially Todd, George, Chris and Don… as one big family, and would move from house to house visiting with the adults and playing with the children.     

Taylor left us on December 31, 2004 as the result of a single car accident. He was a very happy young man full of confidence and life.   We love him and miss him.  We are confident that he is safe now.

 This verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18… was found in Taylor’s wallet…

      Always be joyful and never stop praying.  Whatever happens keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ.  This is what God wants you to do.