JT - Jeff Taylor Sr.

What a terrible loss for the Taylor family and the HSBBW family.

The mention of all the losses we have suffered this spring and last fall, coupled with all the grief expressed reminded me how much we have gained and have grown through the HSBBW community. I am richer for having had so many new friends in my life; even if some have left us way too soon.

I just got home from watching a game. I am stunned and heart broken. There are simply no words.

I am shocked and saddened. I never met Jeff, but I grew up in Lynchburg and know many, many people -- past and present -- from both Lynchburg College and Liberty. Jeff was clearly a very, very good man and a positive reflection on both schools. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.

I didn't know it was possible to feel more numb than I already felt. He just made a post this morning. He was a huge part of things here. This is so sad.

My heart aches. My youngest son is a student at Lynchburg in part due to the kind and caring counsel of JT. We shared common ground with our kids and had become more than just a cyber friend.

I am heading to VA next week and had hoped to share a moment with a friend that shared both a passion for his son and to all student athletes.

JT - you are loved, respected and will be missed.

OH My Gosh !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Simply, sadly, it will never been the same in Karma land...The HSBBW...and beyond...JT was always there for, and with us...

But gonna be some good Karma up there tonight...JT gonna bring 'em some smiles...

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Terrible news to hear. JT will be missed here for sure. On the other side, there will be freshly cut green grass up there.

You will be missed JT, we shall see you again...

Hello everyone this is Jeff's Bride Mary Clare. Thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers. Jeff really did get a kick out of all the Karma threads...he amazing me. Our 25th Anniversary will be this June 9th...I still can't believe he won't be here with me to celebrate it. For those who don't know Jeff was throwing BP to Jeffrey this afternoon and a line drive hit him just under his left ear when he turned his head. This will be particularly hard on Jeffrey who is not going to give up on baseball or the dream of being drafted. His baseball comrades will be there for him and me. Thank you for being my husband's friends.

In His Grip, Mary Clare

Oh Mary Clare! Our 25th is June 9th too. I'm so very very sorry for your loss. Please know you and Jeffrey are in our prayers. ***hugs to you both***

MC-

JT and I e-mailed everyday. We were in a little group together for about the last 12 years. I just spoke to him this weekend when he called to see how my son's game was going. Brad and Jeffrey are going to be playing together this summer in Martinsville. He will truly be missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to both you and Jeffrey. Your husband was a great man who has touched many lives and will be missed by more people than you will ever know.

Words just don't work here. I left for work around 5:30 this morning, turned on my cell phone, and had the message from Mary Clare. I'm stunned. I too traded e-mails daily with Jeff, sometimes several. He e-mailed me yesterday with thoughts about some work Jeff, Jr. wanted to do on his hitting. He not only kept up with his own son but many others as well ,and was alwasy quick to send congrats on jobs well done.

This was a wonderful man. He loved and adored his family. He was a baseball dad that fully supported his son every step of the way, always wanting only what was best for him. My wife and I were fortunate enough to enjoy dinner with Jeff and Mary Clare when Lynchburg came down to play CNU; we don't often get to meet fellow posters, much less share dinner and conversation, so it was a delight, and now it becomes an even more precious memory.

Jeff was a believer. We talked occasionally about faith journeys and I have no doubt as to exactly where he is right now, and I hope baseball is there.

May God bless Jeff, Jr, Mary Clare, Jeff's family, and his countless friends. He led a good life and made a difference.



Jay

p.s. Jeff posted regularly on d3baseball.com under "A.G." I never did get around to asking him what the heck "A.G." stood for..

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May God bless Jeff, Jr, Mary Clare, Jeff's family, and his countless friends. He led a good life and made a difference.

i can't fathom this loss. our thoughts and prayers from our family.

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Originally posted by JT:
Hello everyone this is Jeff's Bride Mary Clare. Thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers. Jeff really did get a kick out of all the Karma threads...he amazing me. Our 25th Anniversary will be this June 9th...I still can't believe he won't be here with me to celebrate it. For those who don't know Jeff was throwing BP to Jeffrey this afternoon and a line drive hit him just under his left ear when he turned his head. This will be particularly hard on Jeffrey who is not going to give up on baseball or the dream of being drafted. His baseball comrades will be there for him and me. Thank you for being my husband's friends.

In His Grip, Mary Clare

Mary Clare - my very deepest condolences. Jeff was one of my very best friends on the planet. We communicated all the time about many things.

One of his loves was music (like mine) and he started the American Idol thread in the Oh/Ky/Pa/Wv forum where many of our members enjoyed chatting on a weekly basis.

When Jeffery got into the Southern Collegiate League last year and then the Coastal Plains, I shared every secret I knew with Jeff to help Jeffery transition from aluminum to wood. Obviously, Jeffery figured things out quite nicely.

Just a few short days ago, he let me know that Lynchburg had been defeated in the playoffs. My suggestion was to get Jeffery working with wood every day to give him a leg up on his competition. Here was Jeff's reply to my suggestion and the last thing he privately said to me:

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That is EXACTLY the plan. Get him into tip-top shape and swing the wood like its no tomorrow! Last year he had less than two weeks to prepare and took it easy...now he knows.

Good luck to the Coastal...looks like a big showdown for first place on the horizon for next weekend!

Jeff went to high school with my son's college coach - Coach Gilmore and he knew him well. I will call the coach this morning to let him know what happened.

It is no consolation that Jeff died doing what he loved to do - to see his son make it to the big leagues. I shared the same dream with him. He will be dearly missed

Dan

I met JT last year at Liberty when Army came down for a weekend series. He was such a nice guy. I really enjoyed the words we've shared and laughs we've had.

I will miss him.

My thoughts are with his family.

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Originally posted by JT:
Hello everyone this is Jeff's Bride Mary Clare. Thank you for all your kind thoughts and prayers. Jeff really did get a kick out of all the Karma threads...he amazing me. Our 25th Anniversary will be this June 9th...I still can't believe he won't be here with me to celebrate it. For those who don't know Jeff was throwing BP to Jeffrey this afternoon and a line drive hit him just under his left ear when he turned his head. This will be particularly hard on Jeffrey who is not going to give up on baseball or the dream of being drafted. His baseball comrades will be there for him and me. Thank you for being my husband's friends.

In His Grip, Mary Clare

Mary Clare, I am so very sorry for your family and friends' loss. JT was a very positive voice and influence on so many. He did make a difference, as someone said. His glass was always half full. Mine is bone dry right now.

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Jeff was throwing BP to Jeffrey this afternoon and a line drive hit him just under his left ear when he turned his head. This will be particularly hard on Jeffrey

My deepest sympathies go out and I think we all need to say an extra prayer for Jeff Jr. I can't imagine how that young man is feeling right now and hope and pray he is able to find a way to deal with this.

Words fail me. Jeff was very kind to me. He helped me get/find info for my blog. He knew I enjoyed making "homemade baseball cards", so he sent me pictures of Jeff (son) so I could make cards of him. I just talked to him the other day. I never met him in person, but I was proud to call him my friend.

Mary Clare, my heart goes out to you and your son. You know that Jeff's spirit resides, in part, right here and that this community will always be there to support your and Jeff Jr's journey.

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Originally posted by Orlando:
Mary Clare, my heart goes out to you and your son. You know that Jeff's spirit resides, in part, right here and that this community will always be there to support your and Jeff Jr's journey.

Absolutely!!

Isn't it striking at the posts from all of us who considered JT a genuine friend. I guess not that striking when you think about who Jeff was. The lives he touched! Last night I posted and shared from the keyboard of a Toshiba laptop. A laptop I purchased a couple months ago. A laptop that JT helped me purchase through his advice and links. JT appeared to have time for everyone - no matter how big or how insignificant the need.

Many thoughts running through my head regarding JT. Not sure I can put it into words right now. I'm stunned and pained by this.

our family's thoughts and prayers go out to the Taylor family.....

God bless you and bring you peace during this difficult time.

the wagner's

Again, this is so sad. JT was a great help to use when our son was considering whether or not to go to college at Lynchburg or, possibly, two other schools in the same general area. He will be missed.

While not knowing Jeff, I am also saddened by this. Whenever we lose someone it is difficult and we ask why. One thing I know is that on here we are all in the same frame of mind and share the same life as JT, so it affects us all in a deeply personal way.

My prayers go out to Mary Clare and Jeffrey and to all the family. May the Lord comfort you and keep you in this time of sorrow. May He provide a quiet assurance of his love He has for you and that Jeff is with Him today.

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Originally posted by Orlando:
Mary Clare, my heart goes out to you and your son. You know that Jeff's spirit resides, in part, right here and that this community will always be there to support your and Jeff Jr's journey.

Exactly, Orlando. Thanks for saying perfectly some of what many of us feel...

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Originally posted by hokieone:

Jeff was a believer. We talked occasionally about faith journeys and I have no doubt as to exactly where he is right now, and I hope baseball is there.

May God bless Jeff, Jr, Mary Clare, Jeff's family, and his countless friends. He led a good life and made a difference.
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and in that I draw my comfort and I pray yours.........my sincere condolences to all...

Mary Clare and Family:

JT was a very special member of this community and will be greatly missed. I am a better person for having known him electronically and only wish that I could have met him face to face.

My thoughts and prayers will be with you today and always.

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Such sadness....my prayers go out to his family and friends....

What a terrible loss. JT was always kind and helpful. We send our hopes for peace for his family.

I have not visited the General forum in a few days and just saw this thread.

I am so very sad to hear this news. My thoughts and prayers are with Mary Clare, Jeffrey and their entire family.

Like many of you I respected JT and his posts...

Such sad news, my prayers are with the family.

May he rest in peace.

Anyone whose last few minutes on earth were spent playing the sport he loved with the son he loved must've lived an awfully good life to deserve that. Very sad for us though.

Just saw this thread. I am heartbroken. Thoughts and prayers to Jeff's family. May the Lord Jesus Christ comfort you with His peace that passes understanding.

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Originally posted by piaa_ump:

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Originally posted by hokieone:

Jeff was a believer. We talked occasionally about faith journeys and I have no doubt as to exactly where he is right now, and I hope baseball is there.

May God bless Jeff, Jr, Mary Clare, Jeff's family, and his countless friends. He led a good life and made a difference.
..

and in that I draw my comfort and I pray yours.........my sincere condolences to all...

Amen. May God comfort you all at this time,

Mary Clare,

My prayers go out to your family.

My sincere condolences and prayers to the Taylor family and a special prayer for Jeffery

The article referenced on the first page (in the Lynchburg newspaper) has been updated. There is also a picture of Jeff provided by Liberty University. Adding the link again so no one has to go searching.

For those of you near Lynchburg, heard from the team that a viewing will be held on Friday night from 6 - 8pm with the funeral Saturday morning at 10:00am. I'm sure the details and locations will be in the same newspaper this link takes you too.

Lynchburg News Advance

Still so shocked and saddened by this absolute tragedy.

I have read JT's post on this forum for years, so even though I didn't know him, I feel like I knew him. I truly feel for Jeff Jr. and his mother. My sincere condolences to the entire family.

With all the hours spent at the ballfield, a special relationship develops between a player and his father. There isn't a player or father out there who doesn't share the emotion of what is must be a surreal reality for the Taylor family. What a freak accident. I just hope Jeff Jr. will continue to play... I'm sure his dad would want him to continue.

Doesn't matter if you're doing something you love ...with someone you love (such as pitching BP to your son) or sick with a terminal illness....when the Lord calls you to His Home...it's time to go Home. We can't understand why or how something like this can happen, but God is in control and he will provide a way to survive even this. May God strengthen this family and bring them peace in their spirit...peace that passes understanding.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Taylor family.

To Mary Clare and Jeffery,

My heart breaks for you, the rest of your family, and Jeffery's baseball family. I'm sure that God has taken Jeff in His arms. And His loving arms will comfort you.

Peace be with you --