By Hannah Curran, Editor
TRUSSVILLE — The Trussville City School (TCS) dedicated a tree in memory of John Floyd before the board meeting on Monday, May 23.
Floyd, a longtime Editor-in-Chief for Southern Living Magazine, passed away on February 7, 2021; he also played an integral part in making TCS what it is today.
TCS liaison Lisa Bright said that it was a group effort to dedicate the perfect tree for Floyd.
“We talked with several people who knew that John loved the Bloodgood Japanese Maples and Pistachio trees,” Bright said. “So I gave that to the tree commission, and the tree commission found the tree.”
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Bright explained that a plaque was made for the tree and presented it to Floyd’s family. It reads “Years Served June 2004 – June 2010. This Bloodgood Japanese Maple is dedicated to Dr. John A. Floyd Jr. for his years of service to the Trussville Board of Education.”
“This means everything John poured his heart and soul into TCS and the community,” Bright said. “So being able to honor him in a small way of a tree is just great, something that will grow forever and ever, and we’ll have a plaque here, and it’ll just be a memory of who John was.”
Many of Floyd’s family was present for the tree dedication, including his wife, Pam, sons, Ryan and Alex, and grandchildren.
“It’s a very fitting memory; he cared very deeply about Trussville about the school board,” Alex said. “To honor him in a way, something that he loved, he loved Japanese Maples, and especially I think it’s very fitting and very nice to be thought of.”
Alex said it’s an honor to have a legacy to live on and was thankful to share this moment with his family.
“I think it’s fantastic that everybody can be here today because we do have several generations here,” Alex said. “I think this is wonderful. He spent a lot of time at home working on the school because he spent a lot of time at work doing other things. So a nice fitting tribute, and I believe he’d be very happy with the way things are today.”
TCS Superintendent Dr. Patti Neill said Floyd was a board member and played a part in creating Hewitt-Trussville High School (HTHS).
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“He loved beauty in nature, facilities, and perfection in his work,” Neill said. “He was a charter member for TCS starting in 2004, as they formed the system officially in 2005.”
Neill said he brought his love for beauty, perfection, and beautiful facilities into the school system because of who he was.
“His family is a big family in Trussville, and it meant a lot to me to honor his service, the service that he did is his legacy because we’re still practicing the things that he preached,” Neill said.