Roger Leroy Loyd

Roger Leroy Loyd, age 76, died in Durham, North Carolina, on Friday, December 30, 2022. Roger was ordained clergy in the United Methodist Church, a devoted Divinity School librarian, choir member, and a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, teacher, mentor, and friend.

Roger was born on July 23, 1946, in Lubbock, Texas, to the late Emory William Loyd and Mary Louise Loyd. He spent his first ten years on the farm, first in Texas, then in New Mexico. Thereafter he grew up in small town America, in the Texas Panhandle. His childhood was filled with outdoor play and competition with his three brothers, and neighborhood friends. The teams were always Roger and Dick vs. Doug and Bob. His mother, herself later a librarian, raised four boys by herself after his father died when Roger was 15.

Roger graduated from high school in 1964 in Borger, Texas. He received his B.A. in English from McMurry University in 1968, his Master of Theology (now M. Div.) from Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology, in 1971, and his Master of Library Science from the University of North Texas in 1982. He served as a United Methodist pastor at Forest Hill UMC in Amarillo and Christ UMC in Levelland, Texas, and as campus minister at the Wesley Foundation at Texas Tech. In 1980, he became a theological librarian in Dallas, serving as Associate Director of the Bridwell Library at Southern Methodist University, Perkins School of Theology, from 1980-1992, and as Librarian and Director of the Duke Divinity School Library from 1992 until his retirement in 2012. He provided counsel and caring mentorship to numerous theological librarians through the American Theological Library Association. He also once livened up the ATLA meeting in Dallas by bringing a live armadillo. In retirement, he served as Chair of the Theological Book Network Board, helping to bring educational resources to seminaries across the world, including a 2014 trip to Ghana.

Roger was an active member of Duke Memorial UMC for 30 years. He was a passionate advocate for justice and missions, serving on the missions team and as coordinator for Families Moving Forward, where he worked tirelessly to support families experiencing homelessness in Durham. In addition he provided sermon support to the pastors, chaired the History committee, and led the digitization of the church historical records.

A long, tall Texan, Roger enjoyed planting a little garden and eating a lot of peaches, eating homegrown tomatoes, and going to Duke football in his mind. He was equally comfortable playing a game of HORSE in the backyard, or eating watermelon on the roof watching fireworks with his daughter, as he was in the world of academia and theological librarianship. He treasured leading backpacking trips and hiking in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado, spending summers at Ceta Canyon Methodist Camp, and playing guitar while singing with friends and family around a campfire.

Roger is survived by his wife of 54 years, Leta Ruth Loyd, of Durham, daughter Melanie Loyd Harshman, her husband Dusty Harshman, and their daughter Rebecca Harshman, of Austin, Texas; his brothers Doug Loyd and partner Linda Floyd of New York City, Bob Loyd of League City, Texas, and Dick Loyd and wife Mary Loyd of Albuquerque, New Mexico; aunt and uncle Alice and John Kirk of Redondo Beach, California; uncle Keith Loyd of Colorado Springs, Colorado; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters-in-law Brenda Loyd and Linda Loyd.

Roger's Service of Death and Resurrection will be Saturday, January 14, at 10:00 a.m. at Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, 504 W. Chapel Hill Street in Durham, followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Duke Memorial United Methodist Church or Families Moving Forward in Durham.

The Roger Loyd family is under the care of Hall-Wynne Funeral Service. Online condolences: www.hallwynne.com – select obituaries.