Remembrance of the late Dr. Franklin Marshall Lloyd
(January 2, 2021)
Good Afternoon everyone,
The restrictions of the ongoing COVID situation has caused us to do things that we have taken for granted — in a different way. This celebration of the life of the late Dr. Franklin Marshall Lloyd is no exception and as a result family members, especially his daughter Sabine and her family, and his dear sister, Teacher Laurie are not here to participate physically in this service.
As a close cousin and friend of the family, I was therefore asked to read this account of his life and service on their behalf. Fortunately, they will be following the service virtually from their several spaces of comfort around the world. And thankfully, his son Philip is here today as he has been during the latter years of his declining health.
The Lloyd family, would like me to begin by thanking everyone present here today, those of you who are watching the live streaming, as well as those who have sent their condolences. The family has received countless phone calls, e-mails, text messages, meals, thoughts, and prayers. These thoughtful gestures have been especially comforting during this difficult time and have been a reminder of the impact that Dr. Lloyd has had on so many lives.
Dr. Lloyd, as he was known to most Anguillans, was born Franklin Marshall Lloyd on the 21st of April 1934 in the Valley. He was the third of the four children of Philip Nathaniel and Ann Elizabeth Lloyd.
As a youngster, Franklin began his education at the Valley Boy’s School in Anguilla. And he was nurtured in this Valley community as well as this Ebenezer Church and Sunday School. His mother Elizabeth, affectionately known as “Beth Lloyd” and his father Philip “Natty” Lloyd were staunch members of this Church and his sister Evelyn affectionately known as “Teacher Laurie” was an organist here at Ebenezer as well.
His other siblings were the late Dr. Clarence “Sonny” Lloyd, an opthamologist, and of course the late and well-renowned Capt. J. Clayton Lloyd, Anguilla’s first airline pilot and a very successful entrepreneur after whom our Airport is memorialized.
In those days after completing elementary/primary school there was no opportunity for secondary education or high school on Anguilla and as a consequence, Franklin being considered an excellent student was sent off to live with family in St. Kitts at the early age of 12 — so that he could attend the St. Kitts-Nevis Grammar School.
This was the custom of some Anguillian parents, who in those challenging times, could find the wherewithal or a way to further their children’s education abroad. That decision was made because even at a young age, Franklin had demonstrated a love of learning and a determination to further his education.
That parental sacrifice paid off because after secondary school, Franklin migrated to the United States where his uncle, the late Jeremiah Gumbs lived, and he was accepted at the famous Howard University in Washington DC.
Upon graduating from Howard University, Franklin continued his educational journey to France and Belgium where he studied medicine. Obviously, this required that he also had to learn French as a second language to study in these universities — this again a further indication of his determination to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor at all costs. It is a little known fact in Anguilla that Dr. Lloyd was fluent in French. Eventually, his medical training took him to Canada where he completed his studies specializing in internal medicine.
In 1981, Franklin returned to St. Kitts where he worked as a physician and eventually became the Chief Medical Officer for the island. During that time, he balanced being an internal medicine specialist at the hospital and his private practice. It was in St. Kitts that he established, along with his brother Dr. Clarence “Sonny” Lloyd, a great respect for Anguillans living in St.Kitts because of their assertive and ambitious approach to life and living. Franklin and Sonny were highly regarded across the entire St. Kitts community — by people from all walks of life.
While studying in Europe, Franklin met Francoise, a young lady, who would become his future bride. They were married in 1971. That union produced two children, Philip and Sabine. Franklin raised his children in St. Kitts. Once they reached adulthood, he retired and returned to Anguilla with the intention of quietly enjoying this status in his homeland.
However, his “retirement” did not last very long. Dr. Lloyd was asked, and he accepted the call by the Ministry of Health to help to strengthen the health services of Anguilla. In his role as the Director of Health Services in Anguilla, he worked to attract various medical specialists to improve the quality of secondary health care as well as to establish the renal dialysis unit in Anguilla, which ironically, served some patients from St. Kitts and Nevis as well.
Dr. Lloyd also served on several regional committees for the Pan American Health Organization. After retiring as Director of Medical Services, he further served as the Chair of the Anguilla Health Authority. He was a accredited Director on many Boards as well in Anguilla and St. Kitts.
Dr. Lloyd always found the time to be very active in the local community, both in St. Kitts and Anguilla. He was a member of his local Rotary Club for many years and served as President of both the St. Kitts Rotary Club and the Anguilla Rotary Club. He was also a member of the Anguilla Freemasons Association.
In addition to being passionate about medicine, he was also very proud of his culinary skills. Franklin enjoyed cooking and entertaining his friends by testing out new dishes and enjoying a nice bottle of wine. He also enjoyed reading, listening to music, and following cricket.
Dr. Lloyd was a remarkable person in every sense of the word. He was quiet, intelligent, compassionate, a person of the highest integrity, humorous, and loving. Most of all, he had a passion for service. Throughout his life he worked diligently to serve his family, his vocation, and his community.
He made many friends throughout the region because of his profession as well as his business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit. These friendships helped him to build a network that was mutually beneficial to all the islands both in public service and commercial ventures. Many of these friends and associates have been calling the family with words of comfort and expressions of sorrow at his untimely passing. We know that he left a lasting impression on the lives of many who knew him.
We the family are proud Dr. Lloyd’s contribution to the betterment of the communities where he lived and served. This pride has been especially borne out by the several expressions of love that have been extended to us during this period of bereavement. We will certainly miss our father; grandfather; uncle; and cousin. But most of all we are comforted that the many who are participating in this celebration both physically and virtually have made a special effort to pay tribute in some special way to our dear departed Father.
May his Soul Rest In Eternal Peace.
(Published without editing by The Anguillian newspaper.)
