Our precious brother Lloyd was born on August 4th, 1949, and holds the distinction of being born on his father’s birthday, Rev. Dr. Lloyd E. Galloway, the pastor of Lincoln Memorial Congregational Church and President Obama’s birthday. Lloyd, although challenged by the physical limitations of Cerebral Palsy, lived a life that was boundless, and his loving mother and advocate, Dolly Galloway, saw to it that all of his dreams and aspirations came true. He was a miracle baby, and he earned the title of “Miracle Man” by the way in which he never let anything dictate what he had the capacity to experience in life. He was a graduate of Washington Blvd. Elementary School, where he was loved and appreciated by all his teachers, therapist, and support staff. Lloyd captured the hearts and imaginations of his teachers so much so that one of his teachers, Mrs. Featherstone came to the house every week to teach him how to play Chess. Lloyd went on after high school to audit college courses at El Camino College. People marveled how this man without the capacity to talk, had the most amazing way of communicating his ideas, wants, and interest in other people as well as what was going on in the world. You only had to sit with him for a moment until you were drawn into conversation with him and found that your encounter with him touched your life.
After completing high school, Mommie had the vision of creating something that would captivate his interest and give new opportunities for his genius to be expressed and so they started a card and gift shop on Crenshaw Blvd. called Mr. B’s Box. Why you ask Mr. B’s Box? Well, when he was a baby, he would blow bubbles and we called him Bubbles, but as a young man and for his establishment as an entrepreneur, we dropped the “ubbles” and called him “Mr. B”!
The Crenshaw Chamber of Congress was so impressed with him they wrote him up in the Times newspaper and gave him a certificate as the “Youngest Businessman in the Crenshaw Community”! Well needless to say, with these two hard working partners, they outgrew their shop and relocated to Jefferson Blvd. During this time the Post Office that was next door to them closed down and with the help of the community, Lloyd and Mommie opened up the first Postal Contract Operation in Los Angeles. Mommie being a visionary and Lloyd being her boundless partner, decided it was time to buy their own building, and they saved every penny they could and bought the building down the street. -2059 W. Jefferson Blvd. became their new place of business. Lloyd and Mommie-Dolly as she was fondly called, expanded to a point that they were able to hire a dear friend Acie Sims to help out in the shop and to support them running the Postal Contract. Over the years family and various people – Ezzat Monsour- Lloyd’s most devoted caretaker, have come through those doors to support the business and Lloyd’s dreams. It has been a family affair from the very start.
Lloyd has been a world traveler with his dad and his siblings. He traveled with Daddy to Russia and China. He has been on trips across the USA. He has traveled to Italy, thanks to our sister Lark for taking the whole family on her sabbatical award that allowed her to take all of us. Lloyd has been to Jamaica and Hawaii. If we were going somewhere, so was Lloyd.
The pandemic put a monkey wrench in our lifestyle, and it isolated him from the shop and from outside support caregivers. Now we are clear that these last 4+ years was a time for us to come together as a family, and just BE with each other. It was a time for us to be gifted the opportunity to care for our brother and to immerse ourselves in the love we have for each other. Lloyd was the grounding cord of our family and still is.
The lessons of love and gratitude that we learned from him are treasures for our own souls. It will be strange to walk through his room and not see him physically, but in terms of his soul expression, we will never be separated from him. What a gift Lloyd- Mr. B. has been to humanity. He taught us how to live in gratitude. He taught us how to live in a state of patience. He taught us how to communicate with our soul and heart and to stay out of our perceptions and judgment of others. He taught us how to love unconditionally. He taught us how to surrender to faith in God’s divine plans for our lives, and not sink to self-pity questioning “Why me”! He taught us that the only thing that can limit us and hold us back from living the fullness of our lives, is our own mindset. Lloyd taught us to love life no matter what our circumstances are, because the “human spirit” knows no lack and no limitation. Thank you, “B”.
Mr. B was greeted by his Dad-Rev. Dr. Lloyd E. Galloway, his Mom-Dorothy Carmen Kahn-Galloway, his loving sister- Lark E. Galloway-Gilliam, his Grandmothers- Marie Alexandria Hylton, and Elizabeth A. Chambers-Tyler. Lloyd has his sister-Elizabeth M. Evans, and Patricia Galloway-Banday, and brother Mark E. Galloway, to continue the Galloway family legacy. He has a host of nieces Nicole Evans, Robin E. Gilliam, and Leilani R. Banday-Akau, that have been an intricate part of his life as well as a nephew Josh Banday. Lloyd helped to guide them and protect them, and they each had their own special relationship with him. The grand nephews, Celio Banday, Ua Banday, and nieces Malia, Simone, and Aoluna, are the little ones that stole his heart and affection. Lloyd’s life was blessed by his extended family as well with a multitude of cousins to name a few, Douglas Kahn, Girard, Carl and Rodney Henderson, Sonia Hylton Bivens, Ellen Hylton-Woodson, John E. Hylton, Dennis Petinaud, special brother Raj Samaro, nephew in-law Setelo Akau, and niece Niki’s partner Mona Bernardo-Evans, special sister Kathi Cliff, as well as a host of friends too many to name. We know in our hearts of hearts, that Lloyd will always be with us to be present with us in this eternal relationship we have as a family.
We had a beautiful celebration for “Mr. B”-Lloyd! Family and friends came by Angelus Funeral Home and visited with him sharing their memories of him. We came in before hand and set up a beautiful environment for them to honor his legacy. Pictures were shared in a collage format and his favorite banner- the one on this blog was set up with flowers and little cards to write love notes. It was a homey and warm setting that really reflected the fabric of who Lloyd is to us. The out pour of those who texted messages, called, responded on Facebook was amazing but not surprising. Today we did an intimate family internment and I cannot begin to say how absolutely wonderful it was. We are so happy that our Lloyd has transitioned into his metamorphose and is free to walk, talk, and dance all over heaven.
Today’s Program: Forest Lawn -Glendale
Lloyd Edward Galloway, Jr.
“Mr. B’s Metamorphosis” -A New Birthday for Mr. B.
December 19th, 2024 Celebration of Life
Invitation to Celebrate Mr. B’s Amazing Life……Elizabeth Evans -Mr. B’s Sister
Prayer of Remembrance ………………………………Nikkie Evans- Mr. B’s Niece
A Special Song in Honor of Mr. B. ………………….Ua Banday-Mr. B’s grand nephew
Sharing Our Special Memories……………………….Led by Robin Gilliam -Mr. B’s Niece
Happy Birthday Song for Mr. B ………………………Led by Patricia Banday- Mr. B’s sister
With Chocolate Cake and Chocolate Shakes
Bubbles for Mr. Bubbles …………………………………Celio Banday- Mr. B’s grand nephew
Butterflies Taking Flight ………………………………….Leilani Banday-Akau- Mr. B’s niece
Memory Gifts Crafted by his friend………………….. Al-Nisa Johnson
There are a host of family and friends that have sent text messages, called, and responded
on Facebook to share their love and fond memories of their relationship with Lloyd.
Our family is so proud of who Lloyd has been and will continue to be in the lives of family,
friends, and even strangers who discover the “divine purpose” he has contributed to
humanity.
Beautiful Flowers Gifted by: Lloyd’s Loving brother Mark and his wife Linda,
and niece Robin.
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