Irvin Ellison Taliaferro was born June 4, 1952, to Eva Taliaferro Mallory and Joseph Cutler (deceased) in Smithville, Virginia.
At an early age, he moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he was raised and educated. After graduating East Side High School in 1971, Irvin joined the Police Academy. He studied Criminal Law Studies at Rutgers University. He served as a Police Officer for the Newark Police Department for over twenty years before retiring in 2000.
He met and married the love of his life, the former Annie Jewel Mays. From this union were born four children: James, Irvin Jr. (deceased), Chikeisha, and Rachel.
Irvin was an intelligent, charismatic person who never met a stranger. He would strike up a conversation with anyone with whom he came in contact. He was fluent in multiple languages. He never stopped finding new ways to expand his knowledge. He had a passion for golfing and enjoyed spending time with his golf buddies. When he was not on a golf course or helping a friend or family member, he could be found playing chess.
He departed his earthly life on February 2, 2021.
He leaves to mourn his wife, Annie Jewel Taliaferro; three children: James Taliaferro, Chikeisha Taliaferro, and Rachel Taliaferro-Rumlin; daughter-in-law, Dayvon Taliaferro; two sons-in-law, Charles Rumlin and Saeed Habibullah; twelve grandchildren: Deja Taliaferro, Lenaiya Holly (Marquis Giles), Shamynd Stephens (Naidirah Foy), Darnell Taliaferro, Ashley Ward, Brandon Ward, Jaden Hargrove, Jasmine Taliaferro, Jara Anderson, Kierra Rumlin, Alexa Habibullah, and Kimon Rumlin; two great grandchildren: Kijon Holly and Kenai Stephens; mother, Eva Mallory; two sisters, Ella Taliaferro and Sandra Williams; two brothers, Donnie Mallory and Pernell Jordan; aunt, Alethia Jones; five sisters-in-law; five brothers-in-law; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family members; and his good friend and partner in crime, Donnell Bailey.
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