Former Forsyth County Commissioner Taylor Found Dead

Former Forsyth County Commissioner Eddie Taylor was found dead Tuesday night inside his vehicle outside a local restaurant, according to Capt. Jason Shivers with the Forsyth County Fire Department.

Taylor was found in the parking lot of the Ridge Restaurant located off Turner Road after a 12-hour search for him, Shivers said.

The cause of death has not been confirmed, but Forsyth County Coroner Lauren McDonald said Taylor appears to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The state medical examiner's office is conducting an autopsy; results are pending.

McDonald who was good friends with Taylor said, "He did a lot for this community. It's a tragic day for Forsyth County when you lose a leader."

Taylor, 61, was reported missing about 11 a.m. Tuesday, said Forsyth County Deputy Coroner Ted Scarbrough. Someone out searching for Taylor found him inside his vehicle at the restaurant at 9:54 p.m., and a call was made to 911 reporting the discovery. Scarbrough said investigators found nothing suspicious at the scene.

Eddie Taylor served as the District 5 commissioner on the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners from 2001 to 2004 and on the Board of Education in the mid-1990's.

In a statement to Cumming Patch, L.C. "Buster" Evans, superintendent of Forsyth County Schools wrote, "Eddie served on the Board of Education during a very important time in our district's history. We were experiencing phenomenal growth and change. He was always supportive of doing what was in the best interest of kids, whether it meant building a new school or adding innovative technology. Eddie played a big role in who we are today as a district."

Patrick Bell, Forsyth County Commissioner (District 4), who knew Taylor said, "He was a generous man who loved Forsyth County. His death is a tragedy."