Dr. Walter Lawrence (“Bill”) Floyd, Sr

Dr. Walter Lawrence (“Bill”) Floyd, Sr., age 90 of Gainesville, GA and formerly of Durham, NC passed away on Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at Lanier Village Estates.

Memorial services will be held on Monday, October 2, 2017 at 11 AM in the Chapel of Lanier Village Estates with Chaplain Richard Evans officiating. The family will receive friends after the conclusion of the service. A private inurnment ceremony will be held at Gainesville First United Methodist Church.

Dr. Floyd was born December 15, 1926 in Asheville, NC to Henry Terrie Floyd and Nonnie Bailey Floyd. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James Floyd. He served in the United States Navy in 1944-1946. Dr. Floyd was a retired Cardiologist and Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Duke University.

Dr. Floyd received his B.S. degree from Auburn University and his M.D. from Johns Hopkins University. After an internship in medicine at Johns Hopkins and a residency at Yale University, Dr. Floyd came to Duke in 1956, where he completed his residency and then served a fellowship in Cardiology. In his 40-year tenure at Duke, he was well-known as a skilled physician in clinical cardiology with a reputation for providing compassionate care to his patients and their families. In addition to his love of practicing medicine, he loved to teach. He was honored with the Duke Medical Housestaff Award for Excellence in Teaching and in 1990 was presented the Distinguished Teaching Award by the Alumni Association of the Duke University School of Medicine. In 1993, the Walter L. Floyd M.D. Endowed Fellowship in Cardiology was established. Today, that endowment funds the clinical fellowships in cardiology for young physicians that possess the caring qualities exhibited by Dr. Floyd throughout his life and career. 

From 1976-1996, Dr. Floyd served on the Board of Trustees for Elon University where both his parents graduated.  He established a scholarship fund there to honor his parents.

Dr. Floyd is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Helen Bruce Floyd of Gainesville, GA; son, Walter Lawrence Floyd, Jr. of Wetumpka, Alabama; son and daughter-in-law, David Bruce Floyd and Shannon Floyd of Atlanta; daughter, Elizabeth Ann Floyd of Cornelius, North Carolina; grandchildren, Camille Claire Floyd and William Joseph Floyd.

Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville, GA  30504 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to: H. Terry and Nonnie B. Floyd Scholarship

Elon University, 2600 Campus Box, Elon, NC 27244, Attn: Patricia Burton, Director of Donor Relations  Or   Pruitt Health Hospice – Gainesville, 700 S. Enota Dr NE Ste 202, Gainesville, GA 30501