H 4064  Resolution, By Finlay, Bales, Ballentine, Bernstein, Brawley, Garvin, 
Hart, Howard, McDaniel, Rutherford, Rose, Thigpen, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, 
Atkinson, Bailey, Bamberg, Bannister, Bennett, Blackwell, Bradley, Brown, 
Bryant, Burns, Calhoon, Caskey, Chellis, Chumley, Clary, Clemmons, Clyburn, 
Cobb-Hunter, Cogswell, Collins, B.Cox, W.Cox, Crawford, Daning, Davis, Dillard, 
Elliott, Erickson, Felder, Forrest, Forrester, Fry, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gilliam, 
Gilliard, Govan, Hardee, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Henegan, Herbkersman, Hewitt, 
Hill, Hiott, Hixon, Hosey, Huggins, Hyde, Jefferson, Johnson, Jordan, Kimmons, 
King, Kirby, Ligon, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mace, Mack, Magnuson, Martin, 
McCoy, McCravy, McGinnis, McKnight, Moore, Morgan, D.C.Moss, V.S.Moss, Murphy, 
B.Newton, W.Newton, Norrell, Ott, Parks, Pendarvis, Pope, Ridgeway, Rivers, 
Robinson, Sandifer, Simmons, Simrill, G.M.Smith, G.R.Smith, Sottile, Spires, 
Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Trantham, Weeks, West, 
Wheeler, White, Whitmire, R.Williams, S.Williams, Willis, Wooten, Young and 
Yow
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH
 CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE DEATH OF GERALD DANIEL FLOYD OF
 COLUMBIA AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
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   02/26/19  House  Introduced and adopted (House Journal-page 25)

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE DEATH OF GERALD DANIEL FLOYD OF COLUMBIA AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Gerald Daniel Floyd of Columbia on February 17, 2019, at the venerable age of eighty; and

Whereas, born and reared on a tobacco farm near Lake City, Gerald was a son of the late Carl and Lillie Thigpen Floyd. He earned a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in English education at the University of South Carolina (USC); and

Whereas, he taught English for five years at A.C. Flora High School and thirty-eight years at Dreher High School, serving as chairman of the department for several years and secretary of the South Carolina Council of Teachers of English. He was voted Teacher of the Year four times at Dreher High School and Best Teacher in Columbia twice by the readers of the State newspaper; and

Whereas, an accomplished actor and vocalist, he played more than sixty roles in theatrical productions at Trustus Theatre, Town Theatre, Workshop Theatre, Columbia College, USC, Columbia Lyric Theatre, Act One Theatre, and Opera at USC. His favorite roles included Amos (Mr. Cellophane) in Chicago, Richard Henry Lee in 1776 and Modern Major General in The Pirates of Penzance; and

Whereas, in addition, Gerald sang several years with the Columbia Choral Society, Palmetto Mastersingers, and Carolina Chorale. Through the years, he also sang with several church choirs. In recent years, he was an active member of Washington Street United Methodist Church, where he sang in the adult choir. For several years, he served as president of the Evening Music Club; and

Whereas, after retiring from teaching, he continued his community involvement by working part-time at Dunbar Funeral Home, writing theatre reviews for the State, and supervising student teachers at USC; and

Whereas, by the time Gerald retired from teaching, he had taught thousands of students during the administration of seven different principals. One of them, Arlie Whittinghill, observed that if all teachers "did their jobs the way Gerald Floyd did his, there would have been no need for administrators like me. I could have gone fishing much earlier"; and

Whereas, another, Christine Webb, remembered Gerald's many talents and "his willingness to do whatever it took to make Dreher a special place for students. He could teach all types of students and was loved by all of them." Rae McPherson described him as a master teacher and felt fortunate to have had an opportunity to work directly with him; and

Whereas, a teacher, raconteur, cook, gardener, an actor/singer and ardent Gamecock fan, Gerald Floyd wore many hats and wore all of them well, with style. As a gifted storyteller, he infused each of his classes with entertaining anecdotes that his students would never forget. Almost every day, he amused his colleagues with a "Gerald joke" or story that no one else, even if he tried, could ever tell as well; and

Whereas, Gerald's students remember him as a masterful teacher. The theatre community remembers him as a fine comic actor. Many families remember him as a genial limousine driver at Dunbar Funeral Home. But even more remember him as a most loyal friend, one who never forgot a birthday, who always memorialized the significant moments in others' lives, both successes and sorrows. This chef with a green thumb brought friends flowers from his own garden and hosted the best and most delectable and diverting dinner parties in town; and

Whereas, predeceased by siblings Benjamin L. Floyd, Elise F. Ward, and Janet F. Ayers, he leaves to cherish his memory two sisters, Marjorie F. Gohlich (Edward) and Helen F. Nettles (Davis); numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives, friends, former students, and colleagues; and

Whereas, Gerald Floyd lived a full and happy life and touched so many other lives along the way. Everyone who was fortunate enough to know him will remember and miss his tireless energy, his stories, his laughter, his inimitable sense of humor, and all his thoughtful acts of kindness for many years to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the death of Gerald Daniel Floyd of Columbia and extend the deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family.