Charles April (C. A.) Lloyd passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday morning, November 24, at the age of 95. C. A. was born on April 1, 1926, in Wake County and was the youngest child of eight born to Mary Magdeline “Maggie” Pearce and Leonidas “Lonnie” David Lloyd, Sr. He was given the middle name “April” because he was born on April Fool’s Day which he celebrated pranking family and friends every birthday. While growing up on a farm in Wake County and graduating from Rolesville High School, he always found time to be on a baseball field. Later, he enjoyed playing softball on the Raleigh Fire Department’s softball league. C. A.’s humor was “him,” and his many friends, especially firemen, suffered his joking.
C. A. was a 32nd Degree Mason, 32nd, Degree Scottish Rite, member of the Amran Shrine, volunteered with Wake County Meals on Wheels, charter member of the Raleigh Firemen’s Club and led the effort to secure the land and build a facility for Raleigh firemen to host activities and a member of Rolesville Baptist Church . Five of the brothers were drafted and served in World War II—Whitson, C. A. and L. D. joined the United States Navy in September 1944, brother Codee joined the Marines and brother Jack joined the Coast Guard. After retiring as captain of the Raleigh Fire Department, C. A. established the US Armed Guard Association and worked tirelessly with the Department of Defense to grant the Armed Guard’s recognition as a branch of service. He spent many hours identifying all WW II ships of the Merchant Marines, located each ship’s shipmates across the United States and reunited the shipmate veterans and their families.
C. A. was predeceased in death by his parents,, Mary Magdeline Pearce Lloyd and Leonidas Lloyd, Sr.; sisters Vera Belle Lloyd Palma and Virginia Dare Lloyd Duke; twin brothers Thraudy Lloyd, Sr. and Claudy Lloyd; Willis Codee Lloyd; L. Whitson Lloyd; Louis Evans “Jack” Lloyd; and Lonnie D. (L. D.) Lloyd, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 75 years, Hilda Juanita Perry Lloyd. He wrote daily notes for her to read each morning with her cup of coffee; daughters, Kaye Lloyd Gattis (Tommy) of Raleigh and Carolyn Lloyd Williams (Phil Rosch); grandsons Trent Gattis (Connie) of Wilmington, NC; Jason Smith (Lauren) of Raleigh; and Brad Williams (Ada) of Moraga, CA; and great-grandchildren: Josh (Raleigh) and Morgan (Wilmington) Gattis; Sutton and Lawson Smith (Raleigh); and Madeline, Charlotte and Sophie Sheng Williams (Moraga, CA); and 13 nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, November 27, at 11 am at Rolesville Baptist Church, 203 E. Young Street, Rolesville, NC. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10:00 to 10:45 am in the church sanctuary.
The graveside interment will be a private family prayer ceremony immediately following the memorial service at the church cemetery.
Please consider a contribution to Rolesville Baptist Church Building Fund, 203 East Young Street, Rolesville, NC 27571 or Transition Hospice Care, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 https://www.transitionslifecare.org Flowers will be accepted.
Arrangement by Bright Funeral Home, 405 S. Main Street, Wake Forest, NC, 919-556-5811.