Jan. 20, 2011 - Texas A & M lost one of its finest on the morning of Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, when the life of Taylor Adrian Gillespie, 21, was tragically taken in an auto-mobile accident.

Gillespie was born in Greenville on March 1, 1989. He grew up in Leonard and was a 2007 graduate of Leonard High School. He then attended Texas A & M University in College Station, where he was the proudest member of the Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 2011.

Taylor was majoring in Communications with an emphasis in Communication Technology. He planned to write and direct his own movies, eventually owning his own movie studio in California producing Christian cinema.

While at Texas A & M he was a member of the Corps of Cadets, Company P-2, working his way through the ranks showing leadership, service and dedication. He was selected as a squad leader his sophomore year for outstanding leadership, First Sergeant his junior year, and Company P-2 Commander his senior year. He took on additional responsibilities within the Corps as a member of the prestigious Ross Volunteer Company (The Ross Volunteers serve as the official honor guard of the Governor of Texas and visiting officials, dignitaries and politicians.), and was inducted into the O. R. Simpson Honor society his senior year for outstanding scholastic achievement.

Gillespie’s smile, big heart, and love for the Lord allowed him to touch many lives throughout his 21 years. In a world where conformity prevails, he chose to be the man God called him to be, and because of his servant’s heart, he remains an inspiration to all.

He is survived by his parents, T.J. and Tanya Gillespie of Leonard; grandparents, Vance and Gloria Richardson, Thomas Jefferson III and Ruth Gillespie, and Samantha Kelsey; great-grandmother, Jean Richardson; many cherished aunts, uncles, cousins, and his Cornerstone Baptist Church family.

Pallbearers were Jake Williams, Jeremy Burgess, Kyle and Dillon Vaughn, Robbie Litvin, Bradford Barrett, Jake Stefano, and Josh Burgess. Honorary pallbearers were Austin Wilkerson, Muntrell Titus, Micah Ramer, Cason Riley, Maxwell Gilbert and the Company P-2 Seniors.

Arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Leonard.  Family visitation was held Friday, Jan. 14, at Cornerstone Baptist Church from 6-8 p.m. A memorial service was held in the Leonard High School gym on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011, at 2 p.m., with burial following at Grove Hill Cemetery near Leonard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to “The Taylor Gillespie Memorial Fund”, c/o First National Bank of Trenton, P.O. Box 4, Trenton, TX 75490.

His family takes comfort in knowing that; “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 1 Cor. 15:54-55.