Dr. Lloyd Elijah King Jr.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Wanda Waller King, his 3 children, Kevin King of Steamboat Springs CO, Matthew King (Katie) of Nashville, Courtney King-Merrill (Billy) of Atlanta, two grandchildren, Briar and Callie King, his brother-in-law Tom Thompson (Carolyn) of Naples FL, and his sister-in-law Renee Waller (Bill Seale) of Memphis.

Preceded in death by his parents Mary Frances and Lloyd King, Sr., and his sister Annette King Thompson.

Lloyd was born in Mayfield, Kentucky on Sept 10th,1939 where his parents owned and operated King’s Flower Shop. Lloyd was a graduate of Vanderbilt University class of 1961 where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Upon graduation he served as an officer in the US Navy, aboard the USS Ticonderoga. After the Vietnam War, Lloyd earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from University of Tennessee, Memphis. It was in Memphis where he completed his residency, research at St. Jude Hospital and the VA Memphis, and met and married the love of his life, Wanda.

In 1977 Lloyd moved his family to Nashville and began his distinguished career at Vanderbilt and the VA. For 44 years he was a respected physician and professor, 25 of those as Chief of Dermatology. Some of Lloyd’s special interests in medicine and research were epidermal growth factors, dermatopathology, treatments of brown recluse spider bites, and alopecia areata. He was a kind and caring presence at the hospital, recognized by his colleagues and patients for his compassion and warm sense of humor - often noted for the pearls of wisdom nicknamed “Kingisms”. Lloyd’s most cherished legacy in Dermatology was the 20 plus years of recruiting, mentoring, and training residents.

Lloyd was a member of St. George’s Episcopal Church. He will be remembered for his infectious smile, love of bad puns, and most especially for his devotion to his family, colleagues, and patients. He was adored by his two granddaughters, Briar and Callie, who will forever remember him as “Popsy”.

Memorial services celebrating Lloyd’s life will be conducted at 4PM on Friday, May 6, 2022 with a gathering of family and friends beginning at 2:30PM at St. George's Episcopal Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to your favorite charity.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.marshalldonnellycombs.com for the KING family.