Family, friends, and associates of James Roy Taylor were reminded at his funeral service why he was nicknamed “Methuselah”.

Taylor, who passed at age 103, was eulogised as a Bible scholar, kind soul, and a messenger from God.

“His life, for us, was a crusade for excellence, justice, and kindness,” Pastor Howard Grant-Langley told mourners at Kitson Town Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church.

“In all that he did, he had a deep sense of responsibility to his fellow men,” added Grant-Langley, the executive secretary at the Central Jamaica Conference of SDA Churches.

He said that Taylor also believed in doing what was right, and not what was easy. “His principle was the compass that guided his daily directions, both his private and his public life,” the pastor said.

Born on August 11, 1920, Taylor died on January 18, 2024, following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife of 70 years Marion, two of three children, and many other relatives.

He had a passion for making furniture and, throughout his life, taught the skill to countless young men in Kitson Town.

Elder at Kitson Town SDA Church Errol Martin said Taylor’s words “were simple, yet profound”, and he “exhibited goodness and an abiding love for his church.

“Our hearts are sore… he was one of the best among us,” said Martin.

Taylor’s niece, Ruby Knight-Lewin said her uncle was a humble man, while Garfield Angus, chairman of the Kitson Town Civic Committee, said that although he was sad at Taylor’s passing, he was pleased that the committee had bestowed the Kitson Town Builder’s Award on Taylor before he died and that the centenarian “was able to accept what we had prepared for him, heard what we said about him, and was also able to give us his response”.