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After a brief, brave battle with pancreatic cancer, Leila Josephine Johnson Loyd passed away peacefully in her home on Saturday, August 14, 2021.

A lifelong resident of LaGrange, Josephine (Jo) was born on January 11, 1935, to Blanche Jones Johnson and John Forest Johnson.  She graduated from LaGrange High School in 1953, and received her Associates Degree from LaGrange College in Secretarial Science. Her first job after graduation was as a telephone operator with Southern Bell, where she worked until 1958.

On June 16, 1956, Josephine married Harold Childs Loyd, also from LaGrange, Georgia who was the love of her life. Married for 63 years, they raised four daughters, and enjoyed trips to the mountains, the beach and countless tennis tournaments.

In 1976, Jo began a career as the office manager at Maddox-Page Funeral Home, which is now Striffler-Hamby Mortuary. She was a valued and loyal employee until her retirement after 22 years of service.

Jo was raised in the First Baptist Church of LaGrange, and joined Loyd Presbyterian Church when she married, where she was a beloved member for 60 years.  She served as moderator of the Presbyterian Women, and was awarded an Honorary Life Membership for her service. She also shared her talents at the organ, serving as organist Sunday after Sunday until as recently as three weeks before her death.

Jo was probably best known for her cooking and baking skills, and her family and friends reaped the benefits. She also took up hand-stitched quilting in her retirement, and in true “Josephine” fashion, she made several coveted quilts for family members.

In addition to her husband and her parents, Jo was preceded in death by her sister, Julia Ann Johnson Thompson; by her half-sister, Margaret Louise Johnson; and by three half-brothers, Robert Johnson, Frank Johnson and Forrest Johnson, Jr.

Jo is survived by her four daughters – Laura (Kenneth) Boggs, Eleanor (Patrick) Thompson, Emily (Nasor) Mansour, and Lynn (Mike) Pauley; and also by her eleven grandchildren – Lauren Woodley, Whitney (Jim) Davis, Marianna Boggs, Patrick (Jaclyn) Thompson, Jim (Meghan) Thompson, John (Katie) Mansour, Will (Amanda) Mansour, Joseph Mansour, Jake (Sarah) Pauley, Emily Pauley and Annie Pauley; and also by ten great-grandchildren.

A private service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 at Loyd Presbyterian Church, LaGrange, GA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given to Loyd Presbyterian Church, 550 Glass Bridge Road, LaGrange, Georgia 30240.

Those wishing to share a condolence or remembrance with the family may do so by visiting www.shlagrange.com.

Arrangements are by Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 1010 Mooty Bridge Road, LaGrange, Georgia 30240 (706) 884-8636