Leroy and Agnes Loyd were both born in Statesville, North Carolina. Leroy grew up on the family farm. A mutual friend set up the two on a blind date and, two months later, they were married. Leroy and Agnes were married for 62 years and count 6 children, 13 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren as of 2019.
Leroy served in the Korean War and was awarded the Purple Heart Medal. During a particularly intense battle, he found himself caught in a foxhole between the allies and the enemies for an extended time. He was scared and prayed and had the distinct impression that there was more to life than this and his current religion.
After Leroy returned home to the states, he started looking for a new church. He happened upon General Conference on TV and was impressed by both the words that were shared as well as how the speakers were dressed. Leroy had driven by the church before, but had never found the courage to go in. Shortly after watching General Conference, two sister missionaries came knocking on their door on November 1, 1973. The Sisters stated that they felt impressed to go down the dirt road. Leroy and Agnes took the discussions and were baptized.
One of those sister missionaries was Connie Johnsen Rowberry. If you’d like to read Sister Rowberry’s journal entries about the Loyd’s conversion, you can read them on Family Search at the following link: https://www.familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/68715201?p=20582984&returnLabel=Phillip%20Leroy%20Loyd%20.
Sister Johnsen and her companion, Sister Stout, noted that they did not have time to go down that dirt road, but the prompting was so strong that they had to go. The sisters quickly fell in love with the humble Loyd family. Of course it didn’t hurt that every time they went over, they left with so much food! On December 11, Sister Johnsen shared, “I have a feeling about this family.” On January 19, 1974, Leroy and Agnes were baptized in what Sister Johnsen called, “the greatest ever.” After the confirmation, Brother Loyd bore a beautiful, humble testimony.” Sister Johnsen’s final journal entry related to the Loyd family states, “My heart is full.”
The Loyds’ growth in the church only continued. Daughters Teresa Andrews and Martha Scott shared how their parents had lunch with Howard W. Hunter, who told Agnes that he felt like he had met her before. Brother Loyd was called as Stake Patriarch and was set apart by Boyd K. Packer. The family sent out many missionaries, including sons Marty (Spokane) and Charlie (Romania) as well as grandsons Bert (Chile), Derrick (West Indies), and Matt (Mexico).
The family has so many great memories: going to see the Atlanta Braves, listening to Leroy play on his Martin guitar, Agnes’s Gone with the Wind collection, and temple trips to the DC temple with the stake.
Teresa and Martha shared that their parents taught them to always be early, to honor your word, to treat your mother with respect, to work hard, to love your country and those that made the ultimate sacrifice, to help those in need, to love and spoil your family, and, as those sister missionaries experienced, never let someone leave your home without some type of treat. In summary, Dad and Mom, “were kind, hardworking people that just simply lived the gospel and taught us to do the same. Teaching us to always live the higher law and do our best.”
Leroy and Agnes passed away in 2016 and 2017, respectively, but they leave behind a legacy of faith and service that endures in their family. How grateful we are to stake pioneer families like the Loyds.
