Lloyd W. Downing

Soon after Lloyd’s birth, he moved with his family to Lake Park, Georgia. He attended Lake Park High School where he played football.

After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army in 1958. He was sent to Germany and served in the Military Police.

When he completed his military service, he returned to the United States and went to work for CIT in Jacksonville, Florida. In 1965, he moved to Lakeland, Florida and accepted a job with Foremost Insurance Company. In 1972 he became District Manager and relocated to Jackson, Mississippi where he met his wife, Fran Chapman; they married in 1980.

In 1982, they moved to Clearwater, Florida where Lloyd was promoted to Division Manager. While in Clearwater, Lloyd and Fran enjoyed playing tennis. They lived in Clearwater until 1988 when Lloyd left Foremost and moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he started his own insurance agency, Excel Insurance Services. He sold the agency and retired in 2014.

In Jacksonville, they initially moved into Charter Point, a Jacksonville (Arlington) subdivision. In 2001, they moved to Springfield, an urban Historic District in decline. They bought a condemned historic house and began restoration. Lloyd oversaw the restoration which took 18 months. Lloyd quickly got involved by taking a position on the Springfield Preservation and Restoration Board. He served for 7 years, helping to address the problems in the community. He also worked with Sheriff's Advisory Council (SHADCO) to address the problems of prostitution and drug dealers working the streets. Twenty-three years later, Springfield has grown into a beautiful community of loving neighbors.

Lloyd is survived by his wife, Fran, and their children, Melodee, Jason and Sylvia. He is also survived by his cousin, Rick Irwin and his wife, Sol, and his cousins, Venice Taw, and Ellen Blythe and her son, Stephen. Lloyd and Fran celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary on December 15th, 2024.

Private services will be held at the Jacksonville National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life for friends and family will be held at the Historic Springfield Society in Springfield.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, February 22nd, 2025 from 2:00 PM until 3:00 PM at the Historic Springfield Society Building, 210 West 7th Street, with a reception to follow the celebration of life service with light refreshments.