Rose Marie (Payne) Lloyd

Rose Marie Payne Lloyd passed away peacefully at her home on December 30, 2022. She was born to the union of Louise Francois and Peter Payne, Jr., on April 2, 1944, in New Orleans, LA. She was a loving daughter, sister, mother, nurturing grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law, godmother, sister-in-law, aunt, and friend to many.

Rose was raised in Braithwaite, LA a little country town down-river of New Orleans. She was the sister of Marguerita Payne, Henry Payne (Wanda), Gwendolyn P. Tucker (Bobby), Linda P. Franklin (Ricky, Sr.), and the late Leonce Francois, Theresa P. Green (Samuel), Peter Payne III, Dorothy P. Cloud (Larry), Lawrence S. Payne (Angel), and William J. Payne (Gloria). Rose was the 6th child born into that brood of 11, but she stood out and she was loved and cherished by her siblings and everyone in Braithwaite.

Rose was educated in the Plaquemines Parish School System and graduated from Phoenix High School in 1962. At Phoenix, Rose was a cheerleader and a member of the girls’ varsity basketball team. Singing was always a part of Rose’s life, and at Phoenix High (which was actually comprised of Grades 1 through 12), Rose sang in the school choir and in all the talent shows. She also often could be heard, singing with friends or her sisters while sitting around under the pecan and oak trees in Braithwaite.

As a very young child, Rose was taught that Jesus loves her by her mother. Her mother told her that whatever she needed, anything at all, just ask Jesus and He would help her. She attended Sunday School and was baptized in the Mighty Mississippi River at the St. Andrew Baptist Church in Braithwaite, by the late Rev. E.W. Johnson. She served faithfully at St. Andrew, lifting her voice in praises to the Lord as a member of the Mid-Day and Junior Choirs.

After graduating from Phoenix High, Rose lived with her sister Margie in New Orleans during the weekdays to attend Dillard University. While at Dillard, Rose was proposed to by her hometown boyfriend Norman Williams. She wanted to accept but knew but her parents would be against it, expecting her to concentrate on her higher education. Being the person, she was who never wanted to disappoint anyone, Rose decided to accept the marriage proposal and secretly wed, but still remained under her parents' roof. When her husband grew tired of those arrangements, he spilled the beans to her parents and Rose was then forced to face reality of her decision. She had to leave Dillard University, but that did not deter her from her goal of receiving a college degree. She kept both eyes focused on her goal, and with the support of her husband, enrolled at Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) where she was awarded her longed-for bachelor's degree in Social Work. At college, Rose pledged Zeta Phi Beta and was a very proud member of that auspicious sorority. She has the “Z” branded on her thigh to prove it. Yes, that right – branded, not tattooed.

After graduation, Rose got down to applying her love, empathy, and passion to help those in need. She began her life-long career as a Social Worker with the State of Louisiana, where she touched many lives and encouraged many saddened hearts. Her clients loved her.

Rose first marriage ended in divorce. But God had greater plans for His humble servant which would lead her to a place where she could continue exemplifying His love on a more personal level. One day, by change (but really all by God’s design) Rose was at a friend’s house where she was introduced to a truck driver whose route had led him to New Orleans. Rose’s heart was captured by this stranger. Before long, she was excitedly on her way to a new state, a new marriage, a new life, and most exciting, a new role as mother!

Rose was united in matrimony with her trucker, Hermon Lloyd Sr., on June 11, 1976. Through this union she was blessed with four beautiful gifts, his young children, Hermon Lloyd Jr. (Jacqueline), Christopher E. Lloyd (Marsha), Cedric J. Lloyd (Tylette), and Denise M. Jones (Nelson) who was only 5 years old at the time. Rose fell in love with her gifts from God, and never referred to them as “stepchildren”. No these were HER children and she loved and nurtured them as her own until the last beat of her heart.

Through her four children, Rose’s heart was further swelled with love as she received a parent’s ultimate joy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren: LaToya Lloyd (her first baby whom she raised) and Toya’s daughters SaMiah Lloyd, Victori and Chas King; Ebonie Lloyd and daughters Terriana and Tenae Lloyd; Philip Lloyd (Sami) and daughter Jolynn and son Ryan; Christopher H. Lloyd (Jennifer) with his son Christopher and daughters Kandi, Christa and Takari Lloyd; Corwin Lloyd and his daughters Camiah and Coriana Lloyd; Candace Edwards (Anthony Sr.) and her son Anthony Jr. and daughter Ariona Edwards; Ashley Lloyd and her children; Charnita Wright; Micole Thomas and her sons Caiden Bannister; Tr’Markus Johnson and daughter Aniyah Johnson; Dominique Thomas and his daughter Malaysias; Cedric Lloyd Jr. with his daughter NaVia Lloyd; the late Hermon Lloyd III and his children Elisse, Erin, Carter, Damari and DaZauri Lloyd; Tenera Lloyd and her daughter Trinity Lloyd and son Demetri Philon; Jayda Lloyd; Jazmin Lloyd and her son Messiah and daughters Brielle and Jenesis Jeter; Jacqueline Jones; Kristiuna Lloyd; Brittany Lloyd; and Jonathan Lloyd. Rose’s kind heart and compassion for children also made room for a relationship with Herman’s daughter, Tomorra Lloyd and her daughter Tysiyahna Lloyd-Hatch.

In her early years in Indy, Rose was a teacher for Auntie Mame Child Care, where she loved to work with young children, teaching them to read, write, and of course, to sing. She also worked as a substitute teacher in the early eighties in the Indianapolis Public School System.

Later she was able to get back to the work, which was really not a job but her calling, when she took a position with the State of Indiana. She worked there as a Social Worker until her retirement in 2012. She was a member and union representative of ASFCME, where she diligently and courageously advocated for the rights of her union brothers and sisters.

Rose loved to sing, and with that love everyone around her was blessed with the sweet sounds of her melodious voice. She sang His praises up and down the highways and byways, traveling often with her church choir. She was a loyal member of New Haven Missionary Baptist church, until illness kept her home bound. She sang in the church choir with a group called the Chordettes. She later became a devoted member of the Mother Board.

Rose loved her family, friends, and her church and pastor unconditionally. She would want all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to remember her legacy of singing, and to pass that legacy to their children by singing “Jesus Loves the Little Children”.

In additional to her above-named children and their spouses; 19 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; and 4 Siblings, Rose’s Precious Memory will forever be cherished by her 2 Godchildren, Simone G. Santiago and Crystal Payne Johnson; her loving nieces and nephews Kevin, Karen, Sophia “Cookie”, Karla, Stephan, Ernest, Jr., Curtis, Sr. Enice “Terrell”, Larry, Edward, Gerald, Carl, Becky, Kendrick, Angel “Rae”, Seanna, Sharron, Tiffany, Nikkell, Ricky II and DahMann, along with a tribe of great and great-great nieces and nephews and cousins back in Louisiana; friends Cheryl Wise, Charlene Rhodes, Naomi Grimstead and Elder Carolyn Hammons.

Mother Rose Marie Payne Lloyd will be fondly remembered by all those who crossed her path, as a faithful and loyal wife, a loving and devoted mother, a beautiful sister, a strong Woman of God, and a sweet songbird, and very compassionate and kind soul.

A visitation for Rose will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM at New Haven Missionary Baptist Church, 3418 Schofield Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46218, followed by a celebration of life at 11:00 AM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.crownhill.org for the Lloyd family.