Robert Taylor II and his wife Veronica pose beside their son’s grave located near the baseball field that has been named in his honor and will be dedicated Saturday at 3 p.m. at Euharlee’s Osborne Park. SKIP BUTLER/The Daily Tribune News
"We just want everyone to know this is a celebration of Rob's life," father Robert Taylor II said. "You don't have to come to the cleanup. People are welcome to be there just for the dedication."
Fondly called "Li'l Rob" by friends and family, the young man died after an accidental shooting Dec. 29 at the age of 13. The Woodland Middle School eighth-grader "lived and breathed baseball."
"We want to keep his legacy of laughter, love, teamwork and sportsmanship alive," mother Veronica Taylor said. "We'd like to make this an annual thing to keep the field spruced up and clean."
Family and friends recall Li'l Rob's devotion to the sport, working in the field to keep it free of weeds and his positive attitude regardless of what had happened.
"He would always encourage his friends to do their best and if they [messed up] he would say, 'It's OK man, we'll get 'em next time,'" Veronica said.
Target will be providing more than 100 volunteers for the weekend event, supplying food and drinks alongside other vendors such as Frito Lay and Coca-Cola. Taylor's parents, though "honored beyond" belief for the field at the historic Osborne Park to be named for their son and grateful to the city of Euharlee, also express their gratitude and thanks to the retail corporation for the offers to donate time, manpower and food to ready the field for a special dedication.
Cleanup is set to begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday and the dedication will follow at 3 p.m.