Barbara Sue Floyd

Barbara “Sue” Floyd, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, educator, librarian, and friend, passed away on September 20, 2026, at the age of 88. She was born in June 1938 in Dallas, Texas, to Floyd and Beoma Gilliland.

Sue grew up in Dallas and attended Pleasant Grove High School. She went on to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Education from North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas, followed by a Master’s degree in Library Science from East Texas State University, now Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Sue devoted many years of her life to education through Garland Independent School District. She began her career as a classroom teacher at her beloved Routh Roach Elementary School and later became a librarian at Shugart Elementary School. She cherished her years working with children and took great pride in the many young lives she touched. Even years after retiring, Sue enjoyed reconnecting with former students through social media, delighting in seeing the children she had once taught grow into adults and hearing about the lives they had built.

Sue and Cecil Floyd were the parents of three children, Cindy, David, and Missy. Her family was a source of great love and pride throughout her life.

After retiring, Sue embraced the freedom to travel and experience new places. She enjoyed trips to Europe with friends and took several cruises, creating memories and stories along the way. But her happiest places were closer to home: Santa Fe and Red River, New Mexico, places she returned to repeatedly and held especially dear.

Sue was funny, independent, and full of personality. She appreciated good food, a good glass of wine, and, perhaps most of all, good conversation with good friends. She also believed in giving her time to her community and spent many years volunteering with the Garland chapter of Altrusa.

Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Floyd and Beoma Gilliland; her younger brother, Butch; and her son, David.

She is survived by her daughters, Cindy Peoples and her husband, Jack Peoples, of Canton, Texas, and Missy Floyd-Seward and her husband, Bill Seward, of Austin, Texas; granddaughters Wendy Peoples and her wife Jessica Peterson, (whom she considered a bonus granddaughter) of Christchurch, New Zealand, and Beth Peoples of Rockwall; and great-grandsons Alistair and Ren Peoples of Christchurch, New Zealand.

A graveside service and interment will be held privately for family.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to honor Sue’s love of children and learning by giving a book to a child or donating a children’s book to your local library.

Sue lived a life filled with learning, laughter, friendship, travel, and family. She leaves behind not only those who loved her, but also generations of children whose lives she helped shape— many of whom, years later, still remembered their teacher and were happy to reconnect with her. Her stories, her laughter, and her love of a good conversation will be deeply missed.