Cornelius Taylor's body being escorted via horse and carriage to the steps of Atlanta city hall. Taylor died during a city encampment sweep in January. (DorMiya Vance/WABE).
Taylor, known by his nickname “Psycho,” was laid to rest in a shimmery blue and silver accented casket.
Members of the community sign a banner dedicated to Cornelius Taylor before his funeral at Ebenezer Baptist Church (DorMiya Vance/WABE).
Georgia Sen. Reverend Raphael Warnock presided over his service at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Several family members, including Taylor’s cousin, Darlene Chaney, spoke during the service.
“Cornelius…we agreed you would never let me worry. We agreed that you would always let me know where you were.,” said Chaney in a personal letter to Taylor.
“We agreed that you would find a way to always tell me that you’re okay. But you’re not okay and I hard to find out the hard way.”
The attorney for Taylor’s family alleges he was crushed to death as the city cleared his campsite on Jan. 16.
Others who attended the service, like Clark-Atlanta student Lawren Wilson, urged officials to do more to protect the unhoused population.
“We really want this to be the end of the sweeps and the end of just the way that this city and how our society has been treating homeless people,” Wilson said. “Any of us could’ve been Cornelius. Any of us could’ve been in his circumstances.”
Following the service, Taylor’s body was carried by horse and carriage from the church to the steps of Atlanta City Hall. People locked arms, chanting Taylor’s name, as they march behind them.
The Atlanta City Council has paused the encampment sweeps until late March. The effort was passed the same day as Taylor’s funeral. The city is also creating a large task force to investigate its approach to homelessness.
As of now, Taylor’s death investigation remains ongoing.
