- Date Of Birth: August 6, 1920
- Date Of Death: December 21, 2015
- State: Georgia
On August 6, 1920 William Emmett and Ophelia Cowan Loyd welcomed the seventh of what would eventually grow to be a family of nine children. As was true of so many farming families, a large number of children was most common. Mary Josephine Loyd would graduate from Mansfield High School and later obtained her professional training as a beautician at the Artistic Beauty Institute of Atlanta. Kersey’s Department Store was a very fashionable place in Newnan and Josephine was hired to work in their shop upstairs in their store and this necessitated her move to Newnan. She made the acquaintance of a young man from LaGrange, Georgia and became his wife on January 15, 1944 in Alexandria, Louisiana just prior to his departure for Europe during World War II.
She and her husband would later become members of Newnan Presbyterian Church. She loved being a part of the Isabel Odom Sunday School class, Wednesday morning Bible study and the Presbyterian Ladies Group. After working with Kersey’s, Josephine later would venture to open her own shop, called appropriately enough, Josephine’s Beauty Shop on Jackson Street in downtown Newnan. She later moved onto Jefferson Street to be closer to the foot traffic generated by U Save It Grocery and The Newnan Seed Store. She loved growing flowers and vegetables and canned and pickled the items for her garden to enjoy on into the winter months. She was famous for her pickles. Handwork involving sewing and knitting was a favorite endeavor for her. There were always plenty of toboggans, booties and afghans for everybody. Naturally, she was a dynamo in the kitchen and could always turn out a delicious pound cake or a pan of dressing for any occasion. She had a true knack for Bridge and became so adept that she would be ranked as Club Master in the American Contract Bridge League.
Of all her interests, she most loved being the mother to Susan Lee Powers Smith (and husband Phillip), Wilber Freeman Powers, Jr. (Buddy) and his wife Patti Massey Powers. She adored her grandchildren Brian (and Kristi) Smith, Christy Smith (and Brent) Grote, Katie Smith (and Jesse) Tucker, Matthew (and Ronnie) Powers, Steven (and Alexandria) Powers. Her great grandchildren are Jackson Grote, Sara Hays Grote, Sawyer Smith, Reese Smith, Molly Tucker and Corey Tucker. Also surviving is her sister Emily Loyd McDuffie (and Buddy) of Thomaston. Josephine’s last days were brightened by a devoted caregiver Jeanette Keith. She also enjoyed a large extended family of nieces and nephews.
