WYATT DOUGLAS “DOUG” FLOYD
1957-2022
Richmond, VA — Wyatt Douglas “Doug” Floyd, 65, of Richmond, Virginia, went to be with Jesus on Sunday, May 1, 2022, after a two-year battle with cancer. Born in Houston, Texas, on March 3, 1957, Doug was the youngest son of Joseph (JB) Bascom and Mary Smith Floyd. He graduated from Conroe High School and grew up attending Oak Ridge Baptist Church where he was licensed and ordained to the gospel ministry and met his high school sweetheart, Debbie Kneisel, when her dad became his pastor. After beginning studies at Texas A&M University, Doug returned to Houston to marry Debbie and later received his BBA at the University of Houston before pursuing his Master of Divinity at Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. Doug and Debbie were married for 45 years, and have three daughters, eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Doug was a church planter and started two new churches in Houston and Tomball, Texas — Lakeside Baptist from 1983 to 1986 and North Klein Baptist from 1986 to 1992.
Doug was called to missions while serving on a mission trip to Lagos, Nigeria. He surrendered to serving internationally and was appointed by the International Mission Board (IMB) as a church planter to La Paz, Bolivia in 1992. The Floyds were the first Southern Baptist missionaries assigned to La Paz, and they partnered with Canadian Baptists.
In 1999, Doug transitioned to several leadership roles at the IMB working with new missionary personnel and emeritus missionaries in Richmond, Virginia. He loved working with missionaries who were serving overseas and later served as Director of Human Resources for the Americas until his retirement in August 2021.
Doug was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his loving wife, Debbie Kneisel Floyd; daughters Leah (Rich) Callahan, Laura Floyd, Lesley (Shawn) Branscum; grandchildren Richie (Morgan) Callahan, Brett (Crystal) Callahan,
Josie (Eli) Bolin, Austin Barnes, Kamiayh, Hannah, Eli, and Micah Branscum; great-grandchildren Wyatt and Waylon Callahan, Finley Bolin; brother John Allen Floyd; niece Cara Rucker, nephew Matthew (Erin) Floyd; stepmother Joyce Whitaker Floyd; stepsister Kathy Gaddy; aunt Imogene Maerz, and a host of loving relatives and friends.
There will be a celebration of Doug’s life in Richmond, Virginia, on Saturday, May 7 at 10:30 a.m. at Staples Mill Road Baptist Church located at 10101 Staples Mill Road, Glen Allen, VA, officiated by Pastor Jim Booth. Flowers can be sent to the church, or donations in his memory to IMB. On May 14, a memorial service will be held in Texas at 10:00 a.m. at Oak Ridge Baptist Church located at 500 East Oak Hill Drive, Spring, Texas, officiated by son-in-law Pastor Shawn Branscum. The burial will follow immediately at Brookside Memorial Park located at 13747 Eastex Freeway, Houston, Texas. Flowers or expressions of sympathy can be sent to Brookside Funeral Home or the funeral’s website at www.brooksidefuneralhomelauder.com . Donations in Doug’s memory may be made to the International Mission Board, 3806 Monument Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230-0767, or online at https://www.imb.org/generosity .