Wm. "Taylor" Rhodes Jr.

Taylor was a light in this world. He was a funny, athletic, handsome, smart, dog-loving, little-kid loving, beautiful boy. A part of my heart now lives in heaven and I will fight every day for those who battle this disease.

How do you pick your favorite memory of your child? There are so many that make up the life that we had. The birthdays, the Christmas', vacations, graduations and all the little small moments in between that don't seem so small anymore. One of my proudest moments was when he was in an inpatient treatment program in Florida. A white supremacist was in his tx group. He targeted one of Taylor's friends. Taylor defended his friend and ended up in a fight. It is never wrong to do the right thing.

I miss the way he said, "mom". I miss the sound of his voice and his jokes at the dinner table. I will miss his terrible music, and picking up his clothes. I will miss watching him grow up, graduate from college, get married, have kids and make the world a better place. I miss this energy and his light. You could feel it when he was around. I miss the part of my heart and soul he took to heaven. There will never be a moment when I don't ache for his touch and to wrap my arms around him.

Taylor would want to be remembered for who he was, not defined by the disease he fought. He did not choose addiction, no one does. He did not want this fight and neither did we. He is remembered as loyal, loving, and the kind of person would give you the shirt off his back. He was outspoken, fierce, opinionated, hard headed and beautiful inside and out. He was a light in this world and all who loved him carry that light.