Tommie Lee Taliaferro

Tommie Lee Taliaferro, 81, of Prince George, passed away on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Born in Strong, Arkansas, he was the son of the late Conway W. and Lee Braswell Taliaferro. He was also preceded in death by his brother, John Taliaferro. 1SG Tommie Lee Taliaferro dedicated 47 years to Federal Service inclusive of 23 years in the U.S. Army Infantry. His military service spanned the globe from Europe to Asia where he served in the Korean War and two terms in the Vietnam War rising through the grades to the rank of First Sergeant. Having served with great distinction with the First Cavalry, 4th and 9th Infantry Divisions, he earned 26 decorations, four of which were for valor in combat. In Vietnam, while serving as a Platoon Leader, he was awarded the Silver Star, the Nations 3d highest award for gallantry-in-action, as well as the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medals with V Device indicative of valor, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm. After the war, he served as both a Drill Sergeant and unit first sergeant. He culminated his Federal service with 20 years with the U.S. Department of Justice where he received numerous other awards. He was a member of the VFW Post 2239 and one of the original members of the National Association of Military Retirees. Tommie was a former member of Monumental Baptist Church and more recently of Crowder Memorial Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Barbara C. Taliaferro; daughter, Lynn T. Moore and her husband, Michael of Augusta, GA; son, Tracy Lee Taliaferro and his wife, Debra Mallory of Prince George, VA; two grandchildren, Amanda and Kenneth Moore; brother, Joe Taliaferro of Gallatin, TN; two sisters, Dorothy Hollis of Nashville, TN and Betty Freeman and her husband D.L. of Gallatin, TN; and a loving dog, Koko. The family will receive friends from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, July 18, 2013 at the Petersburg Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Service. A funeral service will be conducted at 10:00 AM on Friday, July 19, 2013 at the funeral home. Interment will follow at 1:00 PM in Virginia Veterans Cemetery, 10300 Pridesville Rd, Amelia, VA 23002, with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be donated to Monumental Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1551, Petersburg, VA 23805, Gregory Memorial Presbyterian
Church, 6300 Courthouse Rd., Prince George, VA 23875, and/or Crater Community Hospice, 3916 S. Crater Rd., Petersburg, VA 23805. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .