Yes, I did. Ruth Scott Emmons Lloyd, the mother of my father, William Emmons Lloyd, Sr., was a force. She was born on this day in 1892. She not only birthed and raised four children (all of whom got college degrees and were contributors to their communities and disciplines, let alone also raising families..my cousins), but she also had great influence on her neighborhood.

“Grandma” was a woman of imposing size, strong opinions, and lots of care for her family. She promoted access to health care, utlimately leading to a hospital in Manassas so that people didn’t have to drive ~30 miles into Washington, DC, for health services.

She was also widely recognized for championing creation of a library in the town of Manassas, VA, and years later the library dedicated a facility in her honor:

The Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center (RELIC) is a special collection devoted to genealogy and local history with a focus on Virginia and Prince William County. Located at Central Library, [it] is staffed the same hours as the rest of the Library. The staff are trained to help customers locate information needed to trace their family history and to research persons, places and events associated with local history.

She was big on the library. I may be wrong about this, but I think she promoted a bookmobile in the 1950s. She did a lot of other civic things. She helped bring an exhibit of artifacts related to Egyptian King Tutankhamun in tiny little Manassas; I was little (< 10 years old). I was facinated.

Here’s a 1994 photo (sorry about the resolution) of my father, me, and a picture of my grandmother at the dedication of the Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center.

I have been so fortunate in having great family heritages.

But, this is about Grandma. Happy 130th b’day, Grandma. Thanks for all you passed to me.