John William Floyd Jr.

John William Floyd, Jr. was born on March 12, 1931 in Belle Haven, Virginia to the late John William Floyd, Sr. and Elsie Morris-Floyd. He attended the Accomack County School District until high school. He then began to work to help support his family’s household. He had a very special bond with his mother and before he left home, he built his parents a house in Exmore, VA. On November 10, 1952, he married his young sweetheart, Louise E. Keys. From this union, they had seven children. In 1960, he moved his family to Maryland where he worked as a laborer in an oyster house. However, in 1967, he transported his family to Delaware where he finally made his home. He found employment at General Foods and worked there for over 25 years until he retired in 1993. Everyone throughout General Foods knew him as “Big Chief”. John loved working with his hands and taught himself many things about cars and fixing items around the house. Even though he was not a reader, he loved working with numbers. His joy was talking about “old times”. His grandchildren could repeat his stories verbatim. His hobbies were taking care of his “little farm” animals – “Big Joe”, his goose, multiple chickens and cats. However, one of his favorite past times was talking with his youngest brother, Nathaniel. They had a unique relationship and a language of their own when they communicated with one another. John never really had a life outside of work. He was a dedicated employee and was an example of having good work ethics. He was a man of few words, but he expressed his feelings and love in various ways. Occasionally, he attended Emmanuel Pentecostal Church of God and he supported the Women’s Department by getting dinner orders from his job for many years. He was preceded in death by one child, Clarence Floyd; one brother, Samuel Floyd and one sister, Viola Floyd-Brown. John is survived by his wife of 63 years, Mother Louise Floyd; his five daughters, Carolyn Ayers of Melfa, VA, Margaret E. Burris of Dover, DE, Patricia D. Brayboy (Jimmie) of Camden, DE, Elsie S. Floyd of Dover, DE and Teresa E. Benson (Dale) of Harrington, DE; two sons, Maurice K. Floyd, Sr., of Dover, DE and Clyde W. Floyd (Wanda) of Camden, DE; one sister, Rhina Mae Johnson of Dover, DE and three brothers, Richard Collins (Virginia) of Exmore, VA, Solomon Floyd (Martha) of Baltimore, MD and Nathaniel Floyd (Ann) of Smyrna, DE; one sister-in-law, Mae Floyd; 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John William Floyd Jr., please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

John William Floyd Jr.

March 12, 1931 - September 29, 2016