John David Gaylor
60 of Jellico, Tennessee, passed away at the Fort Sanders Hospital in Knoxville,
Tennessee on August 06, 2026.


He was born 09/24/65 in Middlesboro, Kentucky to the late Rev. Bill Gaylor and Alice
Wolfenbarger Gaylor, who survives.


John was raised in Clairfield Tennessee and graduated from Jellico High School. He
was proceeded in death by his father, Rev. Bill Gaylor, his grandparents, Dave & Bessie
Gaylor and Dallas & Faye Wolfenbarger


He was survived by his daughter, Jessica and her husband Drew Wilkerson, his
devoted, loving Mother Alice, his sister, Rhonda and her husband Rick Johnson, several
aunts, uncles, numerous cousins and friends.


The family of John David Gaylor will hold a graveside service on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 11 a.m., Fonde Church
of God Cemetery, Fonde, Ky with Rev. Eddie Johnson and Rev. Lonnie Lyke Officiating.
Harp Funeral Home will oversee the service.


It would be hard to write one thing about John because there were always two parts of
him. The early John and the latter. The John who was raised on the solid and unshifting
foundation of Jesus Christ, the one who was called into the ministry and had a powerful
anointing on his life, the John, who loved his family, friends and worked with the youth
department at the Middlesboro Church of God, the one who had a number of great
years. Then there was John who battled the demons of addiction and self-harm, missing
out on the incredible joy that was available to him through sharing in the lives of his
daughter, his grandchildren and the family that loved him. In Romans 7:15, Paul
describes a personal internal conflict noting that he doesn’t understand his own actions.
Because he does what he hates instead of what he loves and what he wants to do, that
scripture describes John perfectly. He chose to distance himself and lead a life that he
hated instead of doing what he knew he was born to do, but we are not without Hope
that before he left here, he called on Jesus and found the mercy, grace and forgiveness
available from our savior. As a family who loved him dearly, we will hold to that Hope.
One thing is certain no matter what stage of life he was loved.


In Lieu of flowers donations can be made at the Y12 Bank Williamsburg Kentucky to
Bethany’s Hope Suicide Awareness and Prevention Group c/o Melissa Lawson Grubb
Or Rocky River Church – Celebrate Recovery

Harp Funeral Home of Jellico is in charge of arrangements.  “Your Family Funeral Home”

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