Henry Taylor Averett

Henry Taylor Averett, 65, of Virginia Beach, Va. died unexpectedly but peacefully, on April 29, 2023 at Virginia Beach General Hospital. Taylor is survived by his three children with whom he was most proud and filled with love for: Walter Averett of Virginia Beach, Henry Averett of Norfolk and Laura Averett of Ashville, NC. He is also survived by his sisters, Susannah Dryman (John) and Martha Clark (Gary) and nieces and nephews, Billy Averett (Beth), Taylor Wilmer (Harry), Johnny Dryman, Carter Walker, Mary Clark and Will Clark.  He is predeceased by his parents, Willie Wise Averett III and Meredith Averett and his sister, Clarkson Averett and his brother Bill Averett (Patricia).

Taylor was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on August 12, 1957, the 4th of five children.

He started playing football with the Mighty Mites when he was 6 yrs old and spent his formative years throwing the football with his dad while discussing intricate details of the game. He became a talented player winning several Punt, Pass and Kick competitions. He continued playing every fall season throughout high school, collaborating on crafting play designs with his high school coach.

He also excelled in the sport of swimming and became a nationally ranked swimmer, 8th in the nation, for the 50 meter freestyle short course event at 13 years old. He medaled with state-wide and national AAU All Stars competition and with the AAU Jr Olympics. He was a gifted athlete excelling in every sport he played and continued his physical regimen after he got married by becoming a brown belt in martial arts. He also loved biking, running, fishing, boating, working out and ocean swimming.

His formative years were also spent attending Blue Ridge School outside of Charlottesville. He made his best life long friends there, considering them blood brothers and they continued to convene over the years.

After Blue Ridge and working for a short while building houses, Taylor studied and trained to take over his Dad’s life insurance agency. However, he decided to take a different route and accepted an offer to consult/sell for an hvac company.  He experienced such success that he later accepted a job selling warehouses but found that slow-going.  So he became a home inspector but returned to hvac consulting when the housing market collapsed. He enjoyed the independance and challenge of selling both commercial and residential. He trained and mentored many people in the business.  One hvac owner put him on the tv show, Undercover Boss where he bravely graded his boss with a B and had to tell him why on national TV.  He enjoyed his weekly meetings and camaraderie with his Business Network Intl. group, always driving to excel in business. His expectations were high. He would give a 110% but he wanted you to give 100%. He won the Million Dollar Award for sales several times.  

Taylor was happiest and most comfortable in the great outdoors with nature. His favorite outdoor sport was duck hunting with his cousin Ben and he also enjoyed boar hunting in Arkansas. He could call birds into his yard with just his voice. As a hunter, he also cleaned and cooked his catch. He was grill master extraordinaire and cooked every night on the grill rain or shine.

Taylor was politically minded, and ready to back up his stance, however, he also started every day with a peaceful devotional before leaving the house for work.

We are grateful to his companion, Kathy, who watched his health and kept him laughing his last several months.

Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg is assisting the family.