ANDERSON, S.C. (AP) - A longtime councilwoman in South Carolina’s Anderson County has died from COVID-19.
Gracie Floyd died Friday, county officials said. She was 75.
Floyd had been a member of Anderson County Council for more than two decades and was the longest-serving council member.
In a Facebook post, Floyd’s son Greg said she died from COVID pneumonia and other health complications around 6:30 p.m. Friday.
“She has crossed the threshold of the gates of heaven and she is finally at peace,” the post continued.
No funeral arrangements have been made.
During her time on the council, Floyd organized over 12 community-based organizations in Council District Two, according to her bio on the Anderson County County Council website.
When Floyd’s husband, William A. Floyd, died in 1999, she was elected to complete his council term, the bio said. William Floyd was the first Black person to serve on Anderson County Council. Floyd also was an educator for 30 years and served as an assistant principal at Honea Path Middle School before accepting a principal’s post at Wright Middle School in Abbeville.
Anderson County Administrator Rusty Burns said county flags will fly half-staff in honor of Gracie Floyd beginning Saturday, The Independent Mail reported.
“Mrs. Floyd fought a brave fight for 21 years,” Burns said Friday night. “We are grieving and our hearts go out to her family and friends.”
Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts said Floyd helped introduce him to residents when he was first running for mayor, she brought him to several of the many community groups that she helped to found or lead over the years.
“She will be missed,” Roberts said.
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