The Zachary Taylor Trust Fund was created in 2011 when 17-year-old Zachary Taylor of New Martinsville was preparing for his own funeral. Having battled cancer his whole life, in November 2011 the young man was only given one-to-two weeks to live. He wanted to make his last days as joyous and carefree as possible. In his mind that included making the needed funeral arrangements.

The only problem with planning the funeral was knowing it would be a financial burden on his family. Moved by the young man’s amazing attitude and concern for his family, Weldon Williams of Jarvis-Williams Funeral Homes opened the Zachary Taylor Trust Account at WesBanco.

Taylor’s story and life inspired thousands and the fund quickly grew large enough to cover his funeral expenses. The excess, decided Zachary, should be paid forward to help other families pay for the funeral expenses of their young loved ones. That is exactly what the fund does for families of those 18 or younger-all in the name of the inpiring young man who didn’t want to burden his family.

Taylor did succomb to the cancer that haunted him his entire life. However, he outlasted the doctors’ prediction of one-to-two weeks-enjoying the last five months while inpiring many.

In the spirit of “paying it forward” the family of Matthew Scott Barker, who passed away last Saturday from injuries suffered in an automoblie accident, has asked the community to make donations in Matt’s name, to the Zachary Taylor Trust, 1224 S Bridge St., New Martinsville, WV 26155.