Williams Mullen Mourns the Loss of Albert J. "Al" Taylor, Jr.

Albert J. "Al" Taylor, Jr., 73, passed away Friday January 15, 2016. A native of Newport News, he was the son of the late Albert J. Taylor, Sr. and Elizabeth K. Taylor and was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church.

Al was a graduate of Belmont Abbey College in 1964 and Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary in 1970. He was an attorney for the office of Chief Counsel of the Internal Revenue Service, a partner with Cooper, Spong and Davis, P.C., Hofheimer Nusbaum, P.C., and Williams Mullen, Norfolk.

He had a passion for helping others; he was a constant advocate for the disadvantage; he was the go-to-guy when the chips were down; he had the ability to generate calm when others were agitated and to inject energy when others lacked it and his integrity was above reproach. Al was a member of the American Bar Association, Virginia State Bar Association, Virginia Bar Association, Norfolk and Portsmouth Bar Association and the Portsmouth Bar Association. He was also a member of the Hampton Roads Tax Forum and the Tidewater Estate Planning Council. He was listed in the Best Lawyers of America since 1987 and featured in the Virginia Business as one of "Virginia's Legal Elite."

He served on the board of directors for the Portsmouth Community Foundation and the Churchland Rotary Club Foundation, where he was a charter member and was on the advisory board of the Hampton Roads Youth Center. He was also on the Portsmouth YMCA Board of Directors and was a liaison to the board of directors of the South Hampton Roads YMCA. In 2008 Al was named Portsmouth First Citizen. There are many nonprofits across Hampton Roads that have benefited from Al's willingness to share his legal expertise on a pro bono basis.

He is survived by his wife of 46 years Fran Taylor, two daughters, Jennifer Vierrether and husband Jeff and Cindy Taylor and Scott Stuart; four grandchildren, who knew him as Pop, Haley and Emily Vierrether and Morgan and Kelsey Noe; two sisters, Theresa Outlaw (Ron) and Mary McDougal (Mac); two sisters-in-law, Georgeanne Sharp and Missy Bogle (Kurt) and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to thank their dear friend Dr. Kevin Wilson and many special friends who supported them over their sad journey. A Requiem Eucharist will be conducted on Wednesday January 20, 2016 at 11 a.m. in St. John's Episcopal Church, 424 Washington St., Portsmouth, VA, 23704 by Father J. Derek Harbin. Burial will follow in Meadowbrook Memorial Gardens, Suffolk. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. in Baker-Foster Funeral Home, Bennett's Creek Chapel, 5685 Lee Farm Lane, Suffolk, VA. Condolences may be registered at BAKER-FOSTER.COM. In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorial donation to Edmarc Hospice for Children, American Cancer Society or the Wounded Warriors Project.

Published in Daily Press on Jan. 18, 2016