Loyd O. Taylor

Retired Sgt. Maj. Loyd Oliver Taylor, 56, of 1615 Westbrook Road, Hopewell, departed this life on Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010, at John Randolph Medical Center.

Loyd was born on Jan. 8, 1954, in Roseland, La., to the late Cicero Taylor and Lettie Mae Vernon. He accepted Christ at an early age and was a faithful member of Liberty Chapel, Fort Lee.

Sgt. Maj. Taylor entered the United States Army in August of 1972 first as a cook, then later was promoted to sergeant first class. He had a very successful military career and while serving at Fort Lee, he was the first sergeant of Papa Company, 266 QM BN, and was later assigned to the Connelly Program of 1993. In 1994, Loyd left Fort Lee to attend the Sergeants' Major Academy (Class 43) at Fort Bliss, Texas. He served as the 2nd Id Infantry Division Food Advisor at Camp Hovey, Korea, Division Food Service Sergeant Major at Fort Drum, N.Y., Director of Training, Fort Lee and finally as the Army Center of Excellence, Subsistence (ACES) SGM. Loyd received numerous awards. His awards included the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Order of Saint Martin. Loyd decided to retire after 30 years of being a highly regarded food executive.

After retiring from the military, Loyd accepted a position as a food service specialist/quality assurance evaluator here at Fort Lee. He also earned his associate's degree from Central Texas College, a bachelor's degree in business administration from Strayer University and was attending Kaplan University working towards a master's in public administration.

In the community, Loyd was very actively involved the following: the Sergeant's Major Association, Thebes Temple #208, Vilseck, Germany, the Autumn Woods Neighborhood Watch Program, where he was president, the NAACP and the Hopewell High School Band's Booster Club. He loved his family, friends, his church and community and will be greatly missed.

Left to cherish his memories are: his loving wife of 36 years, Herta Ruth Taylor; daughters, Herta Sabrina Coleman (Maurice) of Matoaca and Lettie Michelle Taylor of Hopewell; son, Marvin Louis Peters-Taylor (Ellen) of Wolfersheim, Germany; nine grandchildren, DaJay N. Taylor, Marcus O. Parham, Savion M. Parham, Elijah M. Coleman of Matoaca, Justice M. Ludwig, Jana Bambach, Janick Glock, Tamina Schmit and Sofie Schmit of Wolfersheim, Germany; four brothers, Anthony C. Smith (Ellen) of Lanchaster, Calif., Jeffery R. Taylor (Connie) of West Covina, Calif., Tyrone R. Taylor (Jovon) of Hammond, La., and Michael L. Taylor of Las Vegas; one sister, Ruthie L. Vernon of Roseland, La.; one aunt, Beulah Dyson of Los Angeles,; two uncles, Ellis Vernon and Gerald Vernon (Na-Ona) of Roseland, La.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A funeral service will be held at noon Thursday, Dec. 16, 2010, at Liberty Chapel, Fort Lee. Chaplain Jerry Hall will officiate. Interment will follow in the Appomattox Cemetery, Hopewell. The family will be receiving friends at the Chapel of Turner-Bland Funeral Home, Hopewell, from 7 to 8 on Wednesday evening.

Arrangements entrusted to the staff of Turner-Bland Funeral Home, Hopewell, the Rev. William N. Bland Jr., funeral director.