Floyd Pittman, Jr.

    Floyd Pittman, Jr. was born in Georgia, at Fort Benning to Floyd Pittman, Sr. and Sara Emma Pittman.  He was raised in SW Georgia and Washington, D.C., where his father served at the Pentagon and Floyd in the ROTC.  Floyd attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where he earned his CPA designation and became lifelong friends with his brothers of the Sigma Nu Fraternity.  As a CPA, he owned several businesses, including the early Gold’s Gyms, before moving to the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2000, anticipating retiring on the beach.  He was a valuations specialist for a local Economic Development Company, CPA, and eventually the Director of the USVI Medicaid program.  After the hurricanes of 2017, he left the islands and found residence with friends in Tennessee, moving on to Southern Illinois in 2021.  

    Floyd’s only living and older relative is his beloved cousin Jean Browning of Georgia.  He is survived by his ex-wife and friend, Sylvia Pittman Meyers and his stepdaughter Heather, along with her daughter.  He is also survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Laura Pittman Keck and Stephen Keck, her mother, Gail, and his three grandsons, Paul, Andrew and Phillip, along with their spouses and children, all from South Carolina.  His youngest daughter is Sarah Catherine Pittman.  Of all the personal belongings he had acquired, the only thing he carried off the island of St. Croix after the hurricanes devastated his home was a collection of family pictures.  Family vacations and gathers were plentiful and clearly, a part of his culture from his childhood.  Old photos included memories from his children’s birth and church dedications, through their many vacations, school photos, hand-made cards for dad and grade cards.  He also kept photos of his parents, his departed brother Jim, and many other relatives.  In Southern Illinois, Floyd is survived primarily by his loving friends, Kathy Jackson and Cheryl Aldridge, the many friends he made at the Marion First Church of God, the Sigma Nu brothers and friends from the VI who stayed in touch over the years.   

    He loved Jesus Christ, his family, friends, the beach, Georgia football, Georgia BBQ, Georgia and St. Croix in general and water sports.  Sylvia and their friends, family and church spent many hours enjoying the lakeside home in Columbus and singing in a significant performance choir.  When they pre-retired to the Virgin Islands, they became very involved in their church and on the beach.  Floyd and Kathy attended the same church and founded the Joyful Voices Community Choir, reaching from the island’s beaches to the government halls with joyful gospel music and supporting and mentoring local artists and choirs.  His favorite national preacher was David Jeremiah, and he loved the music of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  His favorite song is “The Midnight Cry,” and he loves the music and preaching ministry of Marion First Church of God, Marion, Illinois.  He performed his final choir solo for his fellow residents of The Anchor in Marion, Illinois, just before Christmas, with the newly formed Mission Choir he helped inspire.  

    The Memorial Service will be held at Marion First Church of God, Marion, Illinois, on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. in the sanctuary.  He will be buried at 11:00 a.m. at The Rhine Church Cemetery off Raleigh Chapel Road, Raleigh, Illinois.  Memorial tributes may be made to the MFCOG Outreach Mission Choir, 1409 Broeking Road, Marion, Illinois, 62959.