Benjamin James Taylor

Benjamin James Taylor, 31, of Kingsport, TN, passed away on Friday, March 31, 2017, after a decade-long struggle with bipolar disorder. Ben was born in Kingsport, to the joy of his parents, James Ralph and Christine Hume Taylor; and his sister, Teresa Elizabeth Taylor. He graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School, where he was a star football player, awarded a National Merit Scholarship, and named "funniest" by his senior year classmates. He went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee with a degree in logistics and finance (and an obsession with UT football). He worked for logistics companies in Cincinnati and Baltimore; built an enormous knowledge of history, politics, and society; played the drums with vigor; and traveled extensively across the globe.

Life with Ben was full of humor, generosity, thought, and a healthy dose of mischief. He tended his friends and family with guidance and love as carefully as he tended his lush gardens. Innumerable people could not have become the people they are today without him. In recent years, Ben wanted to share his mental health story to confront misunderstandings and biases, help others anticipate and avoid risk factors, and let others like him know that they were not alone. He once said he planted gardens as a sign of hope for the future. His family hopes that his story and memory may continue to be such a sign for all the people who knew and were touched by him, including the five who benefitted from his final act of service: donation of his organs.

Ben will be joining his family members who preceded him in death, including his grandparents, Dennis and Wanda Hume and Ralph and Virginia Taylor; and his maternal aunt, Teresa Hume.

He is survived by his parents, sister, and her fiancé, Pietro DiSciascio.

A Celebration of Ben's life will take place at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, at First Broad Street United Methodist Church, where he attended. Visitation with family and friends will follow.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts, the family has chosen two organizations to receive memorial donations. The first is the Boston University CTE Center, which conducts high-impact, innovative research on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and other long-term consequences of repetitive brain trauma in athletes and military personnel. Online donations may be made at: http://www.bu.edu/cte/financial-support/. Checks may be sent to: Boston University CTE Center, Attn: Jason Miller, 72 E. Concord Street, Robinson, B-7800, Boston, MA 02118. The second is a fund to support the Blessing of the Animals at First Broad Street, an event that was a highlight of 2016 for Ben. Checks may be sent to: First Broad Street United Methodist Church, Attn: Blessing of the Animals Designated Fund, 100 E. Church Circle, Kingsport, TN 37660.