Albert McCloud

Albert McCloud was born November 16, 1932 in Tampa, Florida to the late Phoebe Jones and James McCloud. At the age of 14 his family migrated to Valdosta, Georgia where he attended and graduated from Dasher High School in the class of 1951. Upon graduation, he along with several of his closest friends entered into the United States Air Force where he served his country for twenty years in the capacity of a laboratory technologist. During this time he attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor where he became a certified clinical laboratory scientist. While serving his country, he married Grenda Bell and remained married to her for forty-five years until her passing away in October of 2003. As a result of that union, one child was born, their daughter, "Donna."
Upon completion of his military career, he began another career at South Georgia Medical Center in the laboratory where he became the supervisor of Hematology and Clinical Microscopy. He was also the first African-American to serve in the capacity of laboratory scientist there and was featured in The Valdosta Daily Times for his proficiency in this capacity. A retirement followed from this position after 23 years of service.
Retirement from the military also brought Albert McCloud closer to the Lord. He was baptized and joined First Antioch Baptist Church where he served as a trustee, Boy Scout Leader, math and science tutor, food bank co-chair, pastor's advisory board member and numerous other positions. In later years he returned to his childhood, Methodist roots by moving his membership to St. Paul A.M.E. There he diligently took up the cross and served on the pastor's hands committee and substitute Sunday school teacher, as well as working with the youth who were his passion. As a reward for his hard work and dedication to serving, he was appointed to stewardship and continued to work in the church as well as the community alongside numerous organizations such as the Lowndes County Association for the Blind, the Lowndes County Chapter for the American Kidney Foundation, the Valdosta Brotherhood Association, and was an advisory council member for Valdosta Technical College and many more. Charitable contributions that benefited children were also a large portion of his life's work.
He leaves to cherish his memories, his devoted daughter, Donna McCloud-Johnson; two grandchildren, Braxton and Arthur "A.J."; a son-in-law, Arthur Johnson Sr., all of Stone Mountain, Georgia; a brother, Eugene McCloud; a mother-in-law, Elizabeth Bradford; a special niece, Linda Akins (John); and a special "adopted" son, Jerome "Bob" Fluitt (Mattie); other nieces and nephews include Shirley Wallo of Warner Robins Georgia, Richard Bricker (Emma) of Lithonia, Georgia, George VanAmson (Wendy) of New York, New York, Edmond Smarr and Sandra Smarr of Los Angeles, California, Carl Harris of Valdosta, Georgia, and a host of other great nieces and nephews, friends and church family members who loved and admired him dearly.
Funeral services will be held today at 2 p.m. at the St. Paul A.M.E. Church. Rev. David F. Richards III, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. — Stevens Funeral Home of Valdosta.