Joey Jay Naylor
By Kenneth Mullinax/ASU
A member of one of Alabama State University's most acclaimed football teams has passed away.
Joey Jay Naylor, who was a member of the Hornet Nation's celebrated 1991 SWAC Championship team, died on May 27 after an extended illness.
One of Naylor's teammates, Andre Morgan, the chief photojournalist for Montgomery's NBC affiliate, WSFA TV-12, remembers Naylor, a native of Meridian, Mississippi, as a good student-athlete and a fine person.
"Joey was a really good tackle on our 1991 team and played some very fine football," stated Morgan, who majored in Radio and Television Communications at ASU. "Most importantly, Joey was just a really great, down to earth man, who had a wonderful spirit and who will be missed by all of us who knew him."
Morgan expressed that over the years, he, Naylor and their fellow teammates never lost the camaraderie that came from being history makers together.
"Joey held Alabama State University in his heart, and our winning season of 1991 was an achievement that we all keep close to our hearts and look upon it with deep pride. He was a great member of the Hornet Nation family, and he will be missed," Morgan said.
Naylor is survived by his wife, Felicia, whom he met in Montgomery in 1997; his sons, Caleb Madden and Jaylan Naylor; and his sisters, Toyer Walker and Katricia Herlong.
Meridian's Robert Barham Family Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements and online condolences may be expressed at robertbarhamffh.com.