Sgt Major Ret. Tommy Lewis Floyd

Sgt. Maj. Tommy Lewis Floyd, U. S. Army, retired was born on Aug. 19, 1947 to the late Everette Ethridge Floyd and the late Mary Boyd Floyd Davis. He attended Haylong Elementary School and graduated from Haylong High School in 1965. In his senior year he was co-captain of the 1964 Tiger football team and was selected to the Tennessee Valley all conference team.

Sgt. Maj. Floyd entered the Army immediately upon graduating from high school and was sent to Vietnam in April 1966. He was assigned to the Military Assistance Command Vietnam MACV and completed his tour on Mar. 22, 1967. He was then sent to Ft. Benning, GA and was discharged on June 17, 1968.

After 16 months of civilian life working for L&N Railroad, life insurance company, and finance company, he re-enlisted in Oct. 1969 and was sent to the Panama Canal Zone. He was assigned to the U. S. Army Southern Command USARSO. Later, Tommy transferred to IAGS Inter-American Geodetic Survey, an organization that gave info which was used in the making of maps for Central and South American countries, including the terrain in various countries.

After his tour was over in Panama he was sent to Ft. Devens, MA for 18 months and then was selected for assignment to the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station in Memphis, TN. Following his time in Memphis, he was assigned to Korea, serving with the 2nd Infantry Division for a year. He later served 6 years at Ft. Bragg, NC and then 3 years with the 3rd Armored Division in Germany. He finished his 26 years at Ft. Knox, KY with the 194th Armored Brigade.

During his distinguished career, Tommy Lewis Floyd earned numerous decorations and awards, including 3 bronze stars, and retired as a Sgt. Major.

After retiring Tommy went to work for Tennessee Employment Security as a Veteran's Employment Representative. In Dec. 1996, he was promoted to the position of manager. He retired from the department as a Manager II in July 2007.

Tommy was an avid UT fan and a 32nd degree Mason, Scottish Rite. He was a charter member of the Fruit of the Vine. Additionally, he was a Past Commander of the VFW and a member of the American Legion Post 19.

In his own words, Tommy Floyd had two sons: Shane and Cory, two grandsons: Dalton and Colton, and two wives: Gail and Monika. He's quoted as saying, "I like to keep even numbers."

Sgt. Maj. Tommy Floyd, U. S. Army retired is survived by his loving wife, Monika Floyd of Columbia; sons: Shane Floyd and Cory Floyd, both of Columbia; grandsons: Dalton Floyd and Colton Floyd of Columbia; grand-daughter: Kayla Floyd of Columbia; step-children: Chris Shepherd and Ronnie Jennings of Summertown; step-grandchildren: Noah and Luke Shepherd and Julianna Jennings, all of Summertown; the mother of his children: Gail Floyd of Smyrna; and ex-daughter-in-law, Missy Floyd.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Floyd was preceded in death by two half-brothers and his step-father, Tom Davis who raised him after the death of his biological father.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 21 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Williams Funeral Home in Columbia, TN with Bro. Eddie Rogers officiating. Full military honors will be provided by the United States Army, with members of the detail serving as pallbearers. Burial will follow at Arlington Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant, TN. Visitation will be held on Wed. July 20, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Honorary pallbearers will be David "Boo Boo" Bassham, Steve Springer, Doug Johnson, Ronnie Thurman, Pete Stafford, Charlie Morton, Jimmy Floyd, Eddie Wayne Dugger, Phil Clark and friends of Frasers

Williams Funeral Home of Columbia is assisting the family with their services.