Alline M. Floyd

Biography Tilton Alline Maxville (Wheeler) Floyd Alline Maxville Floyd, 87, died February 11, 2013 at the Laconia Rehabilitation Center following a period of failing health. She was born May 13, 1925 in Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, to Dr. Joseph Edward Wheeler, Sr. and Alline (Maxville) Wheeler. Married Benjamin G. Floyd, June 19, 1953 in McLean, Virginia, they had four children. She was predeceased by her mother on May 14, 1925, her daughter Cynthia Alline Floyd.(1958-1961), her father in 1977, her stepmother Jane (Cannell) Wheeler, her husband, Ben, in 1994, her twin sister Martha Frances (Wheeler) Smith of Grand Marais, Michigan, and her brother Joseph E. Wheeler, Jr., of Houston Texas and Ball, Louisiana. She is survived by three children, Karen Floyd Shepherd and husband James of Tilton, New Hampshire, Benjamin A. Floyd and his wife Susan of Northfield, New Hampshire, and Peter M. Floyd of Brighton, Massachusetts. four grandchildren- Frank H. and Elizabeth Alline Shepherd of Tilton, New Hampshire, Benjamin N. Floyd of Dover, New Hampshire, and Alexander J. Floyd of Northfield, New Hampshire, sister Elizabeth (Wheeler) Harrington of Louisiana, brothers- and sisters-in-law, and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Her father was an orthopedic surgeon with the Veteran's Administration and her family moved to Togus, Maine when she was nine, and again to Memphis, Tennessee before her senior year in high school. Though she graduated from Memphis High School, she considered Cony High School in Augusta, Maine, her alma mater. She graduated from the University of Mississippi, her father's alma mater, and attended Tulane School of Social Work in Houston, Texas. She did settlement work there before moving to Washington, D.C. There she lived in International House, worked as a nanny for an Indian ambassadorial family, and later as a secretary at U.S. Steel. While in Washington she became involved in the Civil Rights movement and participated in lunch counter sit-ins. Her belief in racial equality was greatly influenced by her maternal aunt Selma M. Maxville, a nurse-missionary to Burma for over 30 years. It was in Washington that she met and married her husband, Benjamin Floyd, and their first child was born. In 1956 the young family moved to New Hampshire, where Alline has lived ever since, mainly in Concord, Warner and Sanbornton. When her youngest child was in high school she went back to work, first at the St. Francis Home in Laconia, then for the State of New Hampshire in Concord. She retired in 1990. Alline was a life-long spiritual seeker, which was intensified by the early death of her daughter Cindy from cancer in 1961. She was raised a Baptist, but at various times she was a Christian Scientist, a Unitarian, an Episcopalian, a Congregationalist, a member of the Unity Church, and a Swedenborgian. She was also interested in the supernatural, was a life-long advocate for social justice and enjoyed being a grandmother. She remained close to her twin sister Martha all her life in spite of the physical distance between them. They were best friends, confidants, fellow spiritual seekers, and advocates for social justice. Alline was also close to Martha's family, particularly her daughters Sarah (Smith) Loewen of Clayton Township. Michigan and Alline (Smith) Sulla of Michigan. In 2005 she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. After having to give up her apartment in Concord, she resided at The Arches in Northfield, and most recently at the Laconia Rehabilitation Center. A calling hour will be held Saturday, February 16th from 1:00 to 2:00 PM with a service following at the William F. Smart Sr. Memorial Home, Franklin-Tilton Road in Tilton. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Franklin VNA and Hospice, 75 Chestnut St., Franklin, NH 03276.