John R. Tayloe

Gordon B. Tayloe, Jr. died on October 12, 2015. Gordon will be remembered as a family man, public servant, common sense jurist and leader in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia. Gordon's father was Admiral Gordon B. Tayloe, Physician in the United States Navy and former Health Director of the City of Norfolk. His mother was Vivian W. Tayloe. Due to his father's military career, Gordon and his family lived on the island of Guam, in Rochester, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and on several occasions in Washington, D.C., Oahu, Hawaii, Portsmouth, Virginia and Bethesda, Maryland where he would graduate from Bethesda Chevy Chase High School. While at High School in Portsmouth and Bethesda, he was a member of the football and basketball teams. He then attended Wake Forest, joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity and earned a B.S. degree in 1958. He would also graduate from Wake Forest law school in 1961 and later serve in the U.S. Marine Corps JAG. Gordon is survived by his wife Patricia H. Tayloe, who he was married to for more than 55 years. He was predeceased by his beloved son Michael D. Tayloe and his brother Hinton L. Tayloe. He is also survived by his son Jeffrey B. Tayloe, his son G. Bennett Tayloe III and wife Peggy; and his daughter in law, Amy Tayloe Kanter. He was blessed with eight grandchildren; Meghan, Spencer, Catherine, Natalie, Mike, Jack, Emma and Bennett. Gordon, after discharge from the U. S. Marine Corps, served as an Assistant City Attorney of Norfolk from 1964 through 1974. He was then appointed City Attorney of Portsmouth where he served from 1975 to 1980. Leaving public service, he practiced with the law firm of Cooper, Spong and Davis. During that time he also served as adjunct professor at the William and Mary Law School. In 1987 he joined the law firm of Kellam, Pickrell, Cox and Tayloe, PC, where he continued his practice until retiring more than twenty-five years later. During this period, he also took on additional positions, including serving on the Board of Zoning Appeals, working as a substitute judge and holding the position of Commissioner of the Chancery. Gordon was active in the Episcopal Church for years. He served on the vestry and as Senior Warden at Trinity Episcopal and the Church of the Good Shepherd. He was also head of the Standing Committee and Chancellor of the Diocese of Southern Virginia. During his final days, he was a model of grace and dignity, solely focused on the well-being of the loved ones who surrounded him. I have fought the good fight I have finished the race I have kept the faith Second Timothy, Chapter 4: 7