Helen Bruce Floyd

Helen Bruce Floyd, Age 89 of Gainesville, GA and formerly of Durham, NC passed away on Friday, January 4, 2019 at Lanier Village Estates. 

Memorial services will be held on Sunday, January 13, 2019 at 2 PM in the Chapel of Lanier Village Estates. Reverend Carolyn Clifton of Gainesville First United Methodist Church will officiate.  The family will receive friends after the conclusion of the service. A private inurnment ceremony will be held at Gainesville First United Methodist Church. 

Mrs. Floyd was born June 18, 1929 in Birmingham, AL to Horace Alexander and Ethel Hearn Alexander. Her father passed away when she was only an infant. Later, her mother was remarried to Sydney Bruce and he lovingly adopted her as his own daughter.  She was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband of 66 years, Dr. Walter Lawrence (“Bill”) Floyd, Sr. 

Mrs. Floyd received her B.A. degree from Auburn University in 1951. That year she married Dr. Floyd who, at the time, was a medical student at Johns Hopkins University. The couple resided in Baltimore, MD for four years during which time she was a teacher in the Baltimore City schools. The couple moved to New Haven, CT where their first child was born while Dr. Floyd served a residency in medicine at Yale University. A year later, they moved to Durham, NC where Dr. Floyd attained a remarkable 40-year career on the faculty at Duke University School of Medicine. In 2001, she and Dr. Floyd moved to Lanier Village Estates in Gainesville, GA to be closer to family. 

In addition to being a loving wife and mother to three children, Mrs. Floyd was very active in school, civic, church, and politicalaffairs during her residence in Durham. Many of these activities are too numerous to list.

Some of her political involvement included serving as president of the Durham Republican Women’s Club for three terms and assistant secretary and area vice president of the NC Federation of Republican Women where she received a lifetime membership. She was appointed by then Governor Holshouserto serve a six-year term on the North Carolina Social Services Commission. 

During her years in Durham, she was devoted to First Presbyterian Church and diligently served in a number of roles. She served as president and vice-president of Women of the Church, was Circle Chairperson and served in Congregation in Action, a multi-congregation committee in Durham. She likewise served with Meals on Wheels which was sponsored by the church. Prior to leaving Durham, she received a Lifetime Membership in the Women in the Church. 

She performed a number of activities related to her association with Duke University. She served as program chairperson, vice-president and president of the Duke University Campus Club. She was also president and vice-president of the Duke University Medical Wives. For over 30 years, she served as a volunteer in the Nearly New Shop where the proceeds of the store went to establish scholarships for medical students at Duke University. At the time she left Durham, the scholarship endowment had accumulated to over $3 million. 

She was president of the Driftwood Garden Club and proudly served on the Durham Garden Council as Litter Chairperson. In that capacity, she served as co-leader of a campaign that won Durham the National “Keep America Beautiful Award” and was recognized by the Durham City Council.

Other involvement included serving as president and vice president of the Pearsontown School PTA and Secretary of the Githens Jr. High School PTA and served on the Advisory Council of the Durham County Public Schools. She was also den mother for the Cub Scouts for three years. 

In addition to her civic accomplishments, Mrs. Floyd was an avid Duke basketball and football fan and proudly supported her Blue Devils.  

Mrs. Floyd is survived by her son, Walter Lawrence Floyd, Jr. of Wetumpka, AL; son and daughter-in-law, David Bruce Floyd and Shannon Mehaffey Floyd of Atlanta, GA; daughter, Elizabeth Ann Floyd of Cornelius, NC; grandchildren, Camille Claire Floyd and William Joseph Floyd.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to :

ASPCA

PO Box 96929

Washington, DC 20090-6929

Or 

Gainesville First United Methodist Church

2780 Thompson Bridge Road

Gainesville, GA  30506

Memorial Park Funeral Home North Riverside Chapel, 989 Riverside Dr, Gainesville, GA  30501 is in charge of arrangements.

Send online condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com