Hilton Head church music minister retiring after 25 years

Don’t be surprised if the frozen Presbyterians of Hilton Head Island stand and throw roses at the altar on May 19 when their music minister of the past 25 years clasps his hands in thanks for the last time, smiles and exits into retirement.

Samuel Russell “Rusty” Floyd III came well-credentialed to First Presbyterian in 1999: degrees from Furman University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate from Michigan State. He was a college professor, choral director and composer.

He wanted to get closer to home, the small town of Lake City in South Carolina’s Pee Dee section, where piano lessons from Miss Ruby and the church youth choir of John Stoudenmore helped shape his life. And it’s where he fawned over the Beatles and played in a garage band, The Spyrles, that made it all the way to The Pavilion in Myrtle Beach.

But many would say the best thing he brought to this calling was his wife, Laura Sutton Floyd, a daughter of musical missionaries to Brazil whose operatic soprano voice was discovered when she was in the fourth grade and cast as Gretel in the “Hansel and Gretel” opera.

“Music was our life,” she said.

They have added life to the local music scene.

He is co-principal clarinetist with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and has led the community presentation of Handel’s Messiah. His church choir performed at Carnegie Hall. She sings in the Mary Green Chorale, teaches voice and has performed in countless memorial services and special musical programs. They created a number of new choirs at the church over the years.

Mary Green, whose 50 years of conducting orchestras and choruses includes 13 seasons as music director and CEO of the

Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, said they are both “very modest, humble and self-effacing” but have contributed heavily here on stage and behind the scenes.

“He is a great pleasure to work with, always well-prepared,” she said. “And Laura has a remarkable voice presence that reaches out and holds the audience in her hands.”

The Sanctuary Choir that weathered the Zoom rehearsals of COVID to include some 50 voices will pour all it has into a service of song on Rusty Floyd’s last day May 19.

A piece of music has been commissioned for the occasion.

DREW MARTIN dmartin@islandpacket.com Russell “Rusty” Floyd and his wife, Laura Floyd, pose for a photo April 9 on the grounds of First Presbyterian Church on Hilton Head Island. On May 19, Rusty will retire as the minister of music at the church, a position he has held since 1999.