Willer Aldrich Floyd

Willer Aldrich Floyd

On September 3, 1920, Willer A. Floyd was born in Leon County, Florida, to Mary Wyche Floyd and Robert "Toad" Floyd. Having lived a full life, he passed at the age of 92 on July 17, 2013. His life will be celebrated on Saturday, July 27th, at 11:00 A.M. at the Old West Florida Enrichment Center. Military honors and interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive guests at the wake on Friday, July 26th at Strong and Jones Funeral Home from 7:00 P.M to 8:00 P.M. Viewing will take place at the wake and one hour before the Saturday celebration.

During his late teens, a teacher convinced his father that Willer was "too small to be of any real help on the farm and it would be better to allow him to go to school." With his father's permission, he moved to Tallahassee and attended high school with his cousin, study partner, and best friend, James L. "Professor" Wyche at the original Lincoln High School. He and his cousin entered college at FAMC (Florida A & M College). His college experience was interrupted by the draft, and he became a member of the Air Force, was loaned to the Army, and became a superb welder. While serving during World War II, he studied the entire Bible and exchanged many letters with his childhood sweetheart, Fannie Lee Williams. After the experiences of war, he was honorably discharged and returned to Leon County, FL and Fannie Lee. On October 11, 1945, he and Fannie Lee Williams were married.

Willer then resumed college at FAMC where he earned his Bachelor's Degree. After graduation, he taught carpentry and drafting at Lincoln High School in Gainesville, FL, then returned to Tallahassee where he continued teaching at the original Lincoln High School, Griffin Middle School, and Godby High School.

In his teens Willer fully committed his life to Christ. He continued his Christian devotion by being president of the Middle/Florida-Georgia Layman's Council, a Sunday school teacher and chairman of the deacons' board at Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church at Dawkins Pond. As long as he could, he continued to indulge in serving the church and community, fishing and farming with "Professor" Wyche, enjoying his friends, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, television sports, sharing his family history, and FAMU football with longtime friend Nick Nims.

In 1982, he retired as a public school teacher of thirty-three years. In May of 1990, Fannie succumbed to illness, leaving Willer with beautiful memories. In death, Willer joins his wife, parents, and eight sisters and brothers (Elnora Woodson, Rinalder Floyd, Ernest Floyd Sr., Sallie Hayes, Pearlie Smith, Gracie Barnes, Jessie Floyd, and K.P. Neal Floyd). He is survived by: his brother, Robert Floyd, sister, Elizabeth Washington; two brothers-in-law, Oscar Williams, Jr., and Willie McKinney, five sisters-in-law, Inez Williams, Lucille Clyde Stevens, Daisy McKinney, Thelma Sloan, and Carolyn Walker; five children: Geraldine Floyd-Davis, Ray Elliot Floyd, Linette Cassandra Dudley (Willard), Brenda Gail Pompey (Robert III), and Dwight Aldrich Floyd (Patrice); eleven grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and Godchildren: Gregory Robinson, David Clayton, Antonio Hayes, and Bonita Hayes Hampton. In the last few years, he continuously expressed gratitude for his church, his pastor, in-laws, friends, nieces, and nephews whom he cherished. Recently, he smiled and commented that God has blessed him and he has "lived a full life."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the youth department at Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church at Dawkins Pond, 11014 Thomasville Rd, Tallahassee, FL 32312

Arrangements are entrusted to Strong & Jones Funeral Home , 850-224-2139