Gretta Virginia Johnson Lloyd

Gretta Virginia Johnson Lloyd, 96, was called home to her heavenly Father on May 9, 2025. She was the daughter of William Victor Johnson and Jesse Mae Arrowood Johnson,, and step-daughter of Irene Quintrell Johnson. Gretta was born January 15, 1929 in McCaysville, GA, grew up in nearby Epworth, attended Fannin County Schools and was an All-State basketball player. Gretta attended Bessie Tift College, Forsyth, GA, and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with a major in Voice from the University of Georgia, also completing a Master of Religious Education from Carver School of Missions and Social Work, Louisville, KY. She married Rev. Raymond Lloyd on December 21st, 1953, and worked for three years as a Social Worker with the Louisville and Jefferson County Children's Home, Louisville, KY. After giving birth to her first child, and as her husband, Ray, was nearly completing his Th.D, she became a homemaker, a role in which she took great pride. Gretta's life revolved around the church. She began singing in church choirs at age 14. She taught Sunday School from about the same age. She loved missions and was involved in all the church's mission activities. She sang in every church choir where Ray was pastor. It has been said that Ray asked her to sing whenever he preached a trial sermon, and the church would call him just to get her – more truth than fiction! She sang in the Chattanooga Concert Choir and the Chattanooga Opera Association, the Starkville, (MS) Symphony Chorus and the Knoxville Choral Society. Ray called her his “Songbird”. As a teacher she taught music classes in the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomosho, NI and ESL classes in the Pui Ching Elementary School in Hong Kong. In addition to Sunday School she worked with Bible Drills, Vacation Bible School, and served as local church President and associational President of Women's Missionary Union and was a member of the State Board of Missions in MS. She was a superb example of how to serve the Lord through the local church. She and Ray loved to travel in the retirement years, and visited over 80 different countries. She gave birth to four children. Richard Raymond, III, William Evan, Vicky May and Linda Lee. Preceding her in death are: CHILDREN, William Evan and Linda Lee DAUGHTER-IN LAW, Debra Heard Lloyd SON-IN-LAW, Joseph Michael Redfearn SIBLINGS: Gladys Louisa Johnson Wimberly (Joseph) Garland Johnson Mary Grace Johnson Nichols (Joseph) Geneva Pauline Johnson Fry (Tucker) William Guy Johnson (Shirley) Kathryn Gertrude Johnson Robinson (Robbie) Charles Gay Johnson (Frances) James Gurley Johnson (Mary) Luther Gentry Johnson (Mary) Geraldine Farrar Johnson Butterfield (Mason) She is survived by HUSBAND: Dr. R. Raymond Lloyd, Jr. CHILDREN: Dr. Richard R Lloyd III and Vicky Redfearn Wilkes (Steve) GRANDCHILDREN: Richard R. “Logan” Lloyd IV (Claire) Dr. Kelsey Lee Lloyd Rachel Ann Redfearn Jacob Michael Redfearn (Erika) Captain Joseph Evan Redfearn, (U.S. Space Force) William Jordan Lloyd GREAT GRANDCHILDREN: Cora Lynn Lloyd Eva James Lloyd And the many members of the extended Johnson family. A Celebration of Life Service will be conducted at First Baptist Church, Jefferson City, TN on May 16, 2025, with visitation from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and the worship service immediately following at 1:30 p,m. Interment will follow at the Union Cemetery in Newport, TN. Memorial contributions may be made to the “Ray and Gretta Lloyd Scholarship Fund for Ministerial Students” (Pastoral, Church Music or Missions) at Carson Newman University. CNU Advancement Office, P.O. Box 557, Jefferson City, TN 37760.

Gretta Virginia Johnson Lloyd

January 15, 1929 - May 9, 2025