Derek Lynn Taylor

Derek Lynn Taylor was born on March 25, 1960 in Queens, New York, the son of Charles Taylor, Sr. and the Late Doris Eloise (Rembert) Taylor, and passed away unexpectedly on March 14, 2023 at home, leaving those who loved him so much heartbroken. Derek grew up in Windsor Locks and graduated from Windsor Locks High School in 1978, and he played on the senior varsity football and basketball team as one of the most talented and outstanding players ever. After graduation, Derek went to support his dad’s family businesses in Hartford. Most important, Derek accepted Jesus Christ in his life as an adult. For many wonderful years of his life, he worked as a drug rehabilitation counselor for a local non-profit agency helping others in the community.

Even though Derek’s life was not an easy one, he continued to fight through difficult and challenging times both with his health and financial issues. Derek was cool, calm, and always willing to help anyone he meets. Derek was extremely friendly, kind, and down to earth, a good listener, and able to talk with anyone he comes in contact with. Derek enjoyed telling stories, helping others, watching sports all day and night on television, spending time with his loving family and friends or hanging out with his dad and brothers on Brook Street in Hartford. Derek’s favorite basketball and football teams are the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Cowboys.

Derek was a good-hearted and caring man and will be truly missed and remembered by many lives he touched. Even though, he told sad stories to make you feel sorry for him in the perfect, right tone of voice, yet he was still a gentle soul and was taking to his heavenly resting place way too soon. Derek’s family hopes he sees his mom, sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and a host of other relatives and friends in the heavenly golden gates. Derek, everyone you left behind dislikes that you are gone but we are happy that you made your final hoop and have won the game of life of no more pain, suffering, and financial hardships. Derek, we will always love and miss you until we can meet again!

  Derek is survived by his father Charles Taylor, Sr. (Jean), his brothers, Charles Taylor, Jr. (Liz) of Hartford, Keith Murray Taylor (Lisa) of West Palm Beach, FL, Anthony Clifton Taylor of New York, NY, Winston Taylor (Esther) of Norwich, Christopher Alexander of New Britain, and Thaddeus Mark Taylor of Hartford, his sisters, Brenda Taylor of Riverview, FL, Phyllis A. Fraizer (Joe) of Willimantic, Antoinette Charlotte Taylor of Shelbyville, KY, Sonya Loving (Russell) of Ocala, FL, Kimberly Taylor-Salama (Nyembo) of Shelbyville, KY, niece/sister, Doris Felicia Taylor of Willimantic, nieces, Charlene Taylor of Bloomfield, Ayana L. Nadira of Norwalk, Yohari Salama of Shelbyville, KY, and Kayla T. Taylor of West Palm Beach, FL, nephews, William Charles Jones (Elaine) of Petersburg, FL, Christopher Brenden Jones of Waterbury, Chaz Taylor of Hartford, Charles Taylor III of Hartford, Cornelius Frazier of Birmingham, AL, Keith S. Taylor, Kentrell J. Taylor of West Palm Beach, FL,  Chase Harris of Hartford, Chanquil Barnes of Willimantic, Mark Frazier of Willimantic, Ezekiel Salama of Shelbyville, KY, and Christopher Larame Pierre of Norwich, aunts, Ann Grant of Birmingham, AL, and Thelma Macon of Birmingham, AL, great-nieces, Charlize Omereji, Anaya Omereji, Leilani Jordan of Bloomfield, Evie Greaves of Hartford, Diondra Franklin, Delessia Frazier, Marcoesha Frazier, Tynelia Frazier of Birmingham, AL Naliyah Santiago, and Empress Zaire Nadira of Norwalk, great-nephews, Jayon Taylor of Hartford, Jamari Barnes, Isaac Barnes of Willimantic, DeVonte Bailey, Cornelius Frazier, Jr. of Birmingham, AL, Charles Frazier, Michael Frazier, Rayne Santiago of Norwalk, and a host of beloved cousins and friends.   

Derek is preceded in death by Doris Eloise (Rembert) Taylor (mother), sister, Debbie Lenda Taylor, grandmothers, Clifford McKissick and Beatrice Taylor, grandfathers, Percy Rembert and Murray Taylor, aunts, Odessa Theresa Cooper, Mary Elizabeth Wilson, Josephine Taylor Dubose, and Ann H. Taylor, uncles, William Rich (Ella), James M. Taylor, Sr. (Ann), and James Calvin Wilson, cousins, Mary L. Carpenter Howze (Henry), Robert C. Dubose, Herman Dubose, Thelander G. Taylor, Johnny Wilson, Melvin Newton, Geraldine Wilson, Curtis Rich, Corey D. Newton, Sr., Wayne C. Wilson (Delois) and a host of other beloved cousins and friends.

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