Joseph L. Taylor, 48, of Jefferson City, peacefully passed into his new life on Wednesday, October 24, 2007, at Capital Region Medical Center. He was born on December 18, 1958, in Hayti, MO, the son of the Rev. Henry Lee and Jettie F. Betts Taylor. His mother survives at the home. Joseph was a 1978 graduate of Hayti High School where he was a member of the marching band, and an outstanding player in football, baseball, track, and basketball until a brain tumor at age fifteen ended his high school athletic career. He briefly attended Missouri Baptist College in St. Louis. He was a member of Second Baptist Church of Jefferson City. Prior to moving there in 1999, he was a member of Central Baptist Church of Hayti where he served as a deacon, assistant Sunday School teacher, Junior Choir member, and Sunday School superintendent. He enjoyed singing with the Traveling Sons Quartet. Joseph also enjoyed writing poetry and composed hundreds of poems. A sampling of his poems was self-published. He was especially loved by children in his community and was fondly called Uncle Joe. Other survivors include three brothers and their wives, the Rev. William J. and Bobbie Walker, Milwaukee, WI; Minister Edward and Carol Taylor, Jefferson City; and Henry Taylor, Jr., Detroit, MI; three sisters and one brother-in-law, Iva and Richard Presberry, Jefferson City; Phyllis Smith, St. Louis, MO; and Jettie Taylor Robinson, Fairfield, CA; one uncle and three aunts, Andrew and Annie Mae Betts, and Lodel Betts, all of Joliet, IL; and Elizabeth Betts, Booneville, MS; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his father. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, October 31, 2007, at Faith Temple Church of God in Christ, Hayti, MO. Visitation will be from noon until time of the service with the John German Funeral Home of Hayti in charge of arrangements. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Hayti. Visitation in Jefferson City will be 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30th, at Second Baptist Church which will conclude with a prayer service by the Rev. Cornell C. Sudduth, Sr., Pastor. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.