Ralph McDowell Taylor, Jr., Professor Emeritus of Music at Mississippi College, died on December 8, 2014.

Visitation will be held on December 11, 2014 from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church, Clinton, Ms. Graveside service will be held at the Clinton Cemetery following the visitation.

Ralph was born on May 20, 1934, in Carrollton, Ms., the only child of Ralph M. Taylor, Sr. and Sarah Ray Taylor. He graduated from Mississippi College in Clinton, Ms. and from Florida State University. His teaching career at Mississippi College began in the fall of 1956 and lasted until his retirement in 1999. During that time he also completed a Ph.D.in music and German at Louisiana State University and spent one year as a Fulbright Scholar in Innsbruck, Austria.

Ralph served as organist in several local churches, with the last one being his 20 years of service as organist at First Baptist Church, Clinton, Ms. from 1984 to 2004.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 46 years, Janet Martindale Taylor, his daughter, Katrina Taylor Pace, her husband, Chris Pace, and his three granddaughters, Rachael Lynn Pace, Sarah Katherine Pace and Natalie Anne Pace. He is also survived by his sisterinlaw, Karen Lewis, of Pope, Ms., her husband, Ken, and their extended family, and by several cousins. Also counted among his survivors are the many piano students he has taught during his years at Mississippi College.

Donations may be made to the Music Department of Mississippi College or to the music ministry of First Baptist Church, Clinton, Ms.