Thomas Traylor, Jr.

Thomas Joel Traylor, Jr. “Tommy” passed away Saturday, August 7, 2021, surrounded by his wife and three children.

He was born February 27, 1944 to the late T.J. Traylor and Mary Moorer “Sis” Traylor. Tommy attended Selma grade schools and graduated in 1962 from Marion Military Institute. Tommy joined his father in raising cattle and with his love of the land, also farmed cotton, corn and soybeans.

Tommy loved field training and riding his Tennessee walking horses on the open trails. A natural horseman, Tommy raised and sold countless pleasure horses. He also trained and showed racking horses with his children. Tommy raised his family and built a life only most could imagine in Sardis, Alabama. He was loved by all and his friends were family. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to help someone and there wasn’t anything his friends wouldn’t do for him.

Tommy was affectionately known as “Da” by his grandchildren and “Oop” or “Tuco” by his many friends.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Kay Hart; daughters, Melissa T. Lewis of Foley, Alabama and Mindy T. (Hunter) McDuffie of Cecil, Alabama; son, Joel Traylor of Sardis, Alabama; grandchildren, Lane and Clay Lewis of Foley, Alabama and Addison McDuffie of Cecil, Alabama; brothers, John (Ellen) Traylor, Steen (Carolyn) Traylor, Toby (Debbie) Traylor and Tony Traylor; sister, Mary Kay Brown; foster-brother, B.J. (Steffie) Johnson; sister-in-law, Nancy Hart (Buzz) Phillips of Montgomery and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Tuesday night from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Lawrence Brown-Service Funeral Home in Selma. Burial will be Wednesday, August 11th at 10:00 a.m. at Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery on Hwy. 41 South in Sardis.

Pallbearers will be Harold Spivey, Ray Denmark, Teddy Pouncey, Bill Goolsby, John Henry and Van Carter. Honorary pallbearers will be son-in-law, Hunter McDuffie; brother-in-law, Buzz Phillips and friends, Albert Rice, Billy Wayne Morton, Ken Morrison, Donald Cameron, Paul Ellis, Joe Sexton and Dr. Jack Burns and Blann Bell.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hartley Carter Foundation; 61 Honey Crispy Lane; Pike Road, Alabama 36064 supporting youth field trial scholarships or your favorite charity.

“A life well lived will go on through precious memories.”- Much Love, Kay Traylor