Kay Floyd, 89, major donor to institutions
July 20, 2023
Kay Baker Floyd of Florence and Pawleys Island, a businesswoman who was a benefactor of institutions around the state, died July 16 in Florence surrounded by her family. She was 89.
She was born Feb. 17, 1934, in Timmonsville, the daughter of Hazel Coleman Baker and Andrew William Baker.
She graduated from Saint Mary’s College in Raleigh and the University of South Carolina.
Mrs. Floyd ran one of the largest farming operations in the state and was business manager for one of the first vascular laboratories in South Carolina.
She also made great contributions to Florence as well as the state, which led to the naming of the Floyd Conference Center in Florence and the Kay and Eddie Floyd Football Building at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
She was a founding member of Arts Alive at Francis Marion University.
She took pride in being able to host many important figures in her home including Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush, Senators Strom Thurmond, John McCain, Lindsay Graham, Jim DeMint and Bill Frisk, Governors Nikki Haley and Henry McMaster, and UN Ambassadors John Bolton, Andrew Card and Andrew Young.
Mrs. Floyd was involved and was a member of many organizations including USC’s Delta Delta Delta sorority, the C&S Bank Advisory Board, the Tarantella, Bay Blossom Garden Club, Meals on Wheels, and St. John’s Church in Florence.
She will be remembered for her great admiration of her family, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks and her travels around the world with her husband, her family said.
She set an example to those around her to see the good in everything and everyone with whom she crossed paths.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Cecil Edward Floyd; her children, Coleman Floyd Buckhouse (Keith), Cecil Edward “Bubby” Floyd Jr. and Emory Kay “Sissy” Floyd; her grandchildren, Joseph Edward “Mac” Getz (Melissa), Paul Baker Getz (Brenna), Edward Joseph Buckhouse, George Derrick Floyd, Martha Floyd Thompson (Hunter), Margaret Riley “Daisy” Buckhouse, Katherine Kay “Kay Kay” Getz and Emery Anne Buckhouse; her brother, Hugh Baker (Ellen); and her sister-in-law, Emaline Baker.
Her brother, William Andrew Baker Jr., died before her as did two grandsons, Cecil Edward “Trey” Floyd III and Keith William “Billy” Buckhouse Jr.
Due to construction at St. John’s, the funeral service today at 11:30 a.m. will be held at the Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. at St. John’s Church Parish Hall. A private burial will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels of Florence, c/o The Senior Citizens Association, 600 Senior Way, Florence, SC 29505; Saint Mary’s School, 900 Hillsborough St., Raleigh, NC 27603; St. John’s Church, 252 South Dargan St., Florence, SC 29501; or charity of one’s choice.
