Appling-Madison County GaArchives News.....Cilla Belle Taylor Murder 1987 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Grey Fox greyfox2002@earthlink.net July 16, 2003, 3:40 pm Validosa Daily Times Transcribed exactly as it was written in the newspapers... Sheriff's letter Re: Cilla Belle Taylor Murder LETTER TO THE EDITOR CITIZENS STAND UP FOR JUSTICE We, in our everyday problems and society, are sometimes thoroughly confused and disgusted with our system of justice, from law enforcement through court and finally the prison systems. As to the poor victim of crime it seems always to come up the loser, even with all of our deficiencies and delays in final justice we are proud that we do still have the best in the world. This past week we went to court in Madison County to try a case involving one of the most hideous crimes our department has investigated or been a part of since I have been Sheriff of Madison County. The case involved a cold-blooded murder of a lady who was simply trying to make an honest living for herself in her country store in Hanson, just north of Madison. She was alone after her husband and her son had passed away a few short years back. She never had a chance to talk or defend herself in any way. The murderer just went in and with no consideration for life of another just shot her direct in the face with a 22 caliber pistol, and taking the whole amount of a few dollars from her cash box. Mrs. Taylor was known by the community well, all of the children loved her and as one parent told me last week, every time his children go by her store they ask why this had to happen. As we proceeded with the Tuesday trial, our process of selecting a jury was carried out the first day with outstanding professionalism by our State Attorney Jerry Blair. There were 12 members of the jury picked along with two alternate jury members. The 12 who sat on the jury were composed of ten ladies and two men. These were individuals that had not heard of or were not familiar with the case to be heard. After hearing almost two days of testimony from Sheriff's Investigators and expert testimony followed by the defense testimony, this group came out with a verdict of guilty of first degree murder charging Jerry Stokes of Valdosta (Georgia). Following this procedure the same jury came back to hear the circumstances as to whether the murderer should receive the death penalty or life imprisonment. This jury, after hearing the evidence, came back a second time with the recommendation of the death sentence. None of us feel that the death sentence should be imposed in every murder case but this was a vicious, hideous murder that certainly deserves the death penalty. Myself and the Sheriff's Department personally want to thank God that we do still have citizens in our County that will stand up for what they feel is justice. I know it is hard for these citizens to make these decisions and we want to thank you for this effort to see justice carried out. JOE C. PEAVY, Sheriff Madison County Sheriff's Department 1987 Additional Comments: NOTE: Cilla Belle was the Daughter of Angeline Dilbon Melton, who was the daughter of T. J. DILBON and Anna Rebecca BYRD from Appling Co., GA ===================== Valdosta Daily Times Article - Cilla Belle's murder Transcript from the above newspaper, Valdosta, Georgia - Wednesday, September 9, 1987... Re: Murder of Cilla Belle Melton Taylor... Article by: Terry Richardson - Staff Writer... Madison County, Florida --- The man convicted of murdering a local grocery store owner was sentenced to death this morning. Jerry Stokes, 28, listened quietly while Judge Arthur Lawrence sentenced him to death by electrocution. Stokes wore handcuffs and leg shackles during the sentencing hearing. Stokes was convicted September the 4th of murdering Mrs. Cilla Belle (Melton) Taylor, owner and operator of Taylor Grocery in Madison County. The jury reconvened after the verdict was read and voted to recommend to Judge Lawrance the death penalty. Mrs. Taylor's body was found in her store by customers on the morning of September 23, 1986. Madison County Sheriff Joe Peavy said she died of a gunshot wound. The defense asked for a new trial, saying that there was insufficient evidence against Stokes, and asked the judge to consider whether or not the murder was "coldly calculated and premeditated". The prosecution called the murder "execution style". Near the end of the sentencing, the defendant's mother asked Judge Lawrance for mercy on her son. Lawrance looked at Stokes and said, "May God have mercy on your soul." During the three-day trial, testimony from Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents linked Stokes with both the suspected murder weapon, a 22 caliber pistol, and to a car parked nearby when the body was found. Tobert Kinsey, a special agent with the F.D.L.E., said Stokes told him he loaned the pistol to "Willie B. Davis". Prosecuting attorney's, Jerry Blair and David Fina, stated ther belief that Mr. Davis does not exist. They said the motive for the murder was robbery. David Williams, an F.D.L.E. firearms examiner, said a bullet found at the scene could have been fired from the pistol. He said he couldn't absolutely link the bullet and the pistol because so little of the bullet was left. Customers saw a little blue-and-white car near the store when the body was found, according to court records. A tire taken from Stokes' brother's car, which attroneys for both sides said was a blue-and- white Grand Prix, was a major piece of evidence. The tracks found and photographed at the scene matched the treads of the tire taken from Stokes' brothers car, said Mary Lynn Hjines, an investigator for the F.D.L.E. "The tracks were made either by this tire, or by another with the exact same tread design, width, pressure and wear", she said. Lowell Woodson, an inmate at the Coastal Correctional Institute in Savannah, Georgia, said Stokes asked him to make a phone call for him while they shared a Lowndes County Jail cell in September 1986. "He kept telling me to call his brother and tell him to get rid of the car and to get rid of the tires", Woodson told the jury. "At one point he said, make sure you make that call. I could get the electric chair for this." Alan Lamar, a detention officer at the Lowndes County jail, said he advised Woodson not to get involved and not to make the call. [This article can be found in the newspaper morgue by contacting the above named newspaper...] =============== Cilla Belle Taylor Murder (Letter to Editor) Found in the Jasper News, Jasper Florida... LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, Slightly to the left of the counter is an old, dusty plaque whose words ring ever so true; "Only one life, it soon will pass. Only what's done for Christ will last." Such is a fitting memorial to one who embodied that truth. Haggardly hanging on the refrigerator door are the timeless words of the Ten Commandments, exhorting those who enter to pursue their wisdom. Staring from above the ice cream box are "Seven Things the Lord Hates" as listed in the Proverbs, calling the reader to purify his heart before God. Ah, but in case these are overlooked, there is the "Thought For Today" posted on the door as you exit. In the mind of a murderer, there may very well be some of these truths etched upon his memory, as sleep faithfully evades him. Hopefully, they will stir within him sorrow, which leads to repentance, so that his soul might at last find rest. Mrs. Taylor would have liked that very much. Many enjoyed the rest found in Mrs. Taylor's presence. She exemplified peace. In her was found a relic of humanity found in few among us today, for she bowed not her knee to the almightly dollar. Rather, she chose the role of a servant, who kept her goods as lowly priced as possible, most definitely to her own hurt. Once asked about this, she replied, "Folks around here ain't rich. I always try to do 'em the best I can." And so she did. Mrs. Taylor would certainly blush at these words of praise, especially coming from me. She was more accustomed to hearing one-liners and jesting remarks concerning her "racy" lifestyle, which would immediately rouse a thunderous cackle of laughter unbecoming to her usually silent nature. Yet, a mere obituary just doesn't seem fair for this lady. Her beloved Proverbs say that a man should never praise himself, but should leave that to others. I gladly volunteer that praise. She was deserving of much more that mere words could offer. I'm sorry, Mrs. Taylor, it's the best I can do. Enter into the rest of our Lord. Mickey Starling This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 3.5 Kb