Community celebrates the life of Montgomery police officer Carlos Taylor

Officers from the Montgomery Police Department entered the sanctuary wearing their uniformed best. Each officer paused at the American flag-covered casket before filing into the pews.

Hundreds mourned officer Carlos E.J. Taylor at his funeral Monday. Taylor died June 30 "after a six-year battle with a serious injury which occurred while in service to the Montgomery Police Department in February of 2017," his obituary states.

While on duty, Taylor was in a car crash and suffered a brain stem injury that prevented him from walking or communicating verbally.

Taylor was elected president of his graduating police academy class in 2016. Prior to his policing career, Taylor enlisted as a Navy corpsman in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Taylor was 29 at the time of his death.

Police Chief Darryl Albert called Taylor a true hero and said about Taylor's accident, "you made the ultimate sacrifice."

"He is a hero, and he will be remembered as a role model for future generations," Mayor Steven Reed said.

In honor of Taylor, Reed said his administration would push Alabama lawmakers to enact benefits for injured officers in the next legislative section.

Pastor Jerry W. Iverson Sr. called every day after the car crash a miracle. Taylor survived numerous bouts with pneumonia, fevers as well as the pandemic.

“God was making a way every day," Iverson said.

Iverson said that God used Taylor, who was a devout Christian, to bring people of different cultures together. “Carlos brought a community together," he said.

Iverson commended Taylor's family, who he said never once considered putting Taylor into a nursing home after his injury.

Margaret T. Allen, a relative of Taylor's and a former superintendent of Montgomery Public Schools, called the day a celebration of Taylor's life. “For we are mourning but even more than that we are here to celebrate," she said.

Allen applauded Taylor's character.

“Carlos believed it was worth it to do certain things," Allen said. "... It’s worth it to be faithful. It’s worth it to do your best."

Sgt. Roderick Johnson was Taylor's ROTC instructor at Jefferson Davis High School, where Taylor graduated in 2013. Johnson said that Taylor had swag and was known for his man bun and his numerous pairs of colorful Converse shoes. More than that, though, he said Taylor was a positive influence for kids at his high school.

“He was a great example for Jefferson Davis High School," Johnson said.

Linda Fuqua, one of Taylor's elementary school principals, called Taylor a shining star.

“He was just a joy to be around," Fuqua said.

She said he was so proud to come back to visit the school in his uniform, and she fully expects him to be patrolling the pearly gates in heaven.

Alex Gladden is the Montgomery Advertiser's public safety reporter. She can be reached at agladden@gannett.com or on Twitter @gladlyalex.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Hundreds gather for Montgomery police officer Carlos Taylor's funeral