Donald Ray Cook-Taylor was born in San Diego, CA, on September 20, 1956, to Lilian Cook and William Taylor Jr. Donald accepted the lord Jesus Christ at a young age. He was baptized at the age of 10 at Bethel Baptist Church by Pastor R.L. Sanford. He spent his childhood in Southeast San Diego, where he attended local schools in the district. During this time, his adoration for cars was initiated.
Donald prided himself on his ability to not only fix and rebuild cars but also by being everyone’s point of contact when it came to car troubles. His love for cars, which sparked so young, continued to fester as he became a man. This fondness provided Donald an opportunity to join San Diego’s Black Lowriding culture; where he and his prized possession, a 1963 Impala Wagon named ‘TRAELLA, DO WHAT I TELLA’, were awarded and most famously known for out-hopping other lowriders.
Aside from his passion for cars, Donald began a landscaping business named DT
Services, where he provided freelance gardening, hauling, and clean-up services. Additionally, Donald has 18 years of service as a San Diego City Public Utilities Worker. He was a man of many talents, traits, hobbies, and passions. Diligence is a characteristic that never went unnoticed by anyone who knew him.
Donald showed the same diligence when it came to loving his family. Tough love was his way of loving them while teaching the lessons of life. His comedic, yet short-tempered spirit would only allow him to give the same advice but so many times. But that is how he showed he loved and cared.
Donald went home to be with the Lord on April 14, 2025.
Donald was preceded in death by his mother Lilian Cook, father William Taylor Jr., sisters; Eunice Gipson, Carolyn Burnett, and Delores Cook, brother George Cook Sr., and grandmother Rosie Williams.
Donald leaves behind his 7 children; Danisha Taylor, Donald Taylor Jr., Antonio Marshall Jr., Donnell St. Germain, Terrell Vann-Tolbert, Ambry Taylor, and Jamar Taylor, siblings; Charlotte Cook, William Taylor III, Ronald Taylor, Randall Taylor, Regina Taylor, and Kimberly Jackson, his great aunt Emma Wilson, 12 grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
