Thomas Bryan ?Tom? Taliaferro, Sr., 76, of Orange, died Monday, August 8, 2011, at his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Monday, August 15, 2011, at First United Methodist Church in Orange with the Reverend John Warren, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery in West Orange.

The family will receive friends for visitation from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Monday at the church.

Born in Lubbock on October 18, 1934, Tom was the son of Thurman Benjamin and Lucille Eloise Bell Taliaferro. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had been a long time resident of Orange. He retired from Gulf States Utilities where he was a Master Test Technician.

He received a degree in music education from Lamar University in Beaumont and did graduate studies at Yale University while serving in the Air Force.

Tom was a member of First United Methodist Church where he sang in the choir and actively served on several church committees. He was also a long time participant with Orange Community Players.

Preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Julian Sondra Taliaferro; and his great granddaughter, Taryn Elle Jones, Tom is survived by his children, Juliana Taliaferro of Orange, Thomas Bryan Taliaferro, Jr. and Todd Stewart Taliaferro, both of California, Jennifer Lynne Taliaferro of Simi Valley, California, Jeri Whitmire and her husband Joseph, of Silsbee and Janet Menchaca and her husband Robert of Orange; six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.