Johnnie Lee Lloyd

Johnnie Lee Lloyd was born April 9, 1932 in Fort Motte, South Carolina, to the late Hager Wright Lloyd and Johnnie Lee Lloyd Sr. He was the first son and the 2nd of 5 children. During his youth in Fort Motte, he was known as “Junie”. He would pick his share of cotton and he and his brother would cut neighbors’ hair for 5 cents (a trade learned from their father). As a teenager, Johnnie made the bold move of traveling weekly to Aiken, South Carolina for construction work at the Savannah River Site, better known as the Dupont Bomb Factory, returning home only on weekends. Back in Fort Motte, Johnnie began dating Minnie Lee Weeks. They married in 1952. Encouraged by their families to leave the Jim Crow South to seek a better life and bright future for themselves and their young family they moved to Washington DC in 1953. For two decades, they resided in various locations within Southeast Washington before settling into their house in Anacostia in 1970, where both Minnie and Johnnie lived until their passing. They had four children together: Johnny, Alfreda, Frank and Marvin. Johnnie’s strong work ethic, inherited from his parents, was the foundation of providing a better life for his family. He started his career as a laborer at Kirk Lindsey Construction Company where he soon worked his way up to the supervisory position of Foreman. During his long career, Johnnie helped construct many notable buildings in Washington DC and Northern Virginia, including the Skyline Hotel, the Watergate and the Washington Hilton on Connecticut Ave. Johnnie used his position to hire others from his home of South Carolina. As his sons came of age, he hired each to work alongside him during summers. Johnnie took pride in his home, using his professional skills and strong work ethic, to ensure it was a welcoming environment for extended family and friends. He took on several home improvement projects like finishing the basement and redesigning the backyard to add a deck and carport. Minnie and Johnnie’s home regularly served as a gathering place, including the annual Memorial Day Cookout. He served as a leader of the DC-SC Lloyd Family Reunions. He made sure his children visited South Carolina, a tradition that he and Minnie continued with their grandchildren. These trips included the required stop at “South of the Border” to purchase souvenirs, treats, toys, and take photos with the sculpted animals. Johnnie was always supportive of his family. Whenever Minnie, his beloved wife of 52 years, requested his presence at her home church, Matthews Memorial Baptist, he was right there. He did the same for his children and grandchildren. During his free time, Johnnie played Bid Whist, rode his Harley-Davison motorcycle, and toted around his large recording camera. Armed with a generous selection of fedora style hats, tailored suits, the latest style of Johnson and Murphy or black and white Stacy Adams wingtip shoes, he would slide into his Electra 225 and later, his plush white Buick Road Master. Johnnie was also member of the Elks Columbia Lodge No. 85, where he had been a member for decades. Johnnie was preceded in death by his wife and siblings, Freddie Lloyd, and Jannie Lloyd Heatley. To cherish his memories are three daughters, Alfreda (Paul) Jackson of Fairmont Heights, MD, Sheila McDuffie of Hyattsville, MD; and Ola Murray of Brooklyn, New York; four sons, Johnny (Darcel) of Asheville, NC, Frank (Yvonne), Marvin (LeNaye) of Washington, DC, and Abraham (Cassie) of Washington, DC; 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters: Catherine Lloyd and Claudia Jenkins, and 4 sisters-in-law: Sarah Bartley, Cassie (Benjamin) Cobbs, Georgia Bartley, and Bea Bartley, and 3 brothers-in-law, Leon Bartley, Melvin (Mary) Bartley, and Ollie Heatley. In addition, he leaves nieces, nephews, including special nephew Alfonso (“Fonz”) Lloyd, and cousins, including Arthur Peterson (“Slim”) along with a host of relatives and friends.

Tributes

Johnnie Lee Lloyd

April 9, 1932 - December 20, 2020