A retired agricultural consultant for the S.C. Department of Education and a Walterboro Democrat, Lloyd was considered a quiet man, fellow legislators said Friday. But he would speak with authority to support teacher salaries, rural school funding and property protection for heirs.
"He was a strong advocate for the Lowcountry," said Sen. Clementa Pinckney, D-Ridgeland. "Walter would remind me 'Always take care of the people.'"
Lloyd died after a battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, a progressive neuromuscular disease, according to Colleton County Coroner Rich Harvey.
Pinckney said Lloyd was "a man of long suffering. He suffered with grace and with love."
Lloyd was born Dec. 22, 1931, in Eastover, the son of Irene Goodwin Lloyd and Willie E. Lloyd Sr.
He graduated from South Carolina State University in 1957 and received his master's degree in education from the same school in 1963. He served in the military from 1952-53.
Lloyd retired from the Education Department in 1992 after 35 years as an educator and consultant, then ran for the state House seat.
When asked in 2002 why he was running for re-election, Lloyd, whose House district included sections of Beaufort and Colleton counties, said, "To strengthen our education system, preserve our natural resources and facilitate healthcare facilities for all citizens regardless of income."
Following his uncontested win for a sixth two-year term in November, Lloyd said in January that his priority for the 2005 legislative session would be to fully fund state schools but also restrain the debt that school districts accrue with new facilities.
"It's ridiculous to try to create other schools if you can't fund what you've got," he said.
State Education Superintendent Inez Tenenbaum said Lloyd will be remembered for his dedication to the children of South Carolina.
"He believed education was the future of South Carolina and we, as a state, should invest in knowledge first," she said.
Lloyd's illness had kept him from attending any of this year's legislative session, but legislators remembered his past contributions Friday, consistently noting that he was a man of his word.
"If Walter gave you his word, you could take that to the bank," said Rep. Bill Herbkersman, R-Bluffton.
Although some Columbia legislators look to reshape state law, Lloyd spent his time supporting Lowcountry residents, said Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Hilton Head Island.
"Some guys just dig in hard and help their constituents," Richardson said. "Walter was one of those guys."
Working for Colleton and Beaufort voters meant Lloyd was entrenched in the community, said Rep. Thayer Rivers, D-Ridgeland.
"If there was three people meeting in his district, Lloyd would be one of the three," he said.
Rep. Catherine Ceips, R-Beaufort, said Lloyd was helpful and provided valuable institutional history.
"He had served the state and his people for so long, he knew what had been tried before and had failed and worked," she said.
Lloyd's family said they would release a statement today.
Services will be determined this weekend. Young Funeral home is in charge.