Loyd remembered for impact on students, passion for literature
The Lipscomb community is mourning the loss of longtime English faculty, dean of students and friend Dennis Loyd.
Kim Chaudoin |
“I may not be able to see the design in my years at Lipscomb, but I have no doubt there is a design. I have no doubt it exists. And I thank each one of you for the parts you have played as the ‘threads and the knots’ of human life in this remarkable, enjoyable and always challenging role that I’ve been privileged to play as a teacher.” — Dennis Loyd
These words of reflection were spoken by longtime Lipscomb University English Professor Dennis Loyd as he cited his beloved Thornton Wilder’s The Eighth Day at his retirement celebration April 13, 2001, recognizing his 41 years of service. They are particularly poignant 23 years later as the Lipscomb community mourns the loss of Loyd, a long-time faculty member and friend to all, who died Sunday, May 26 at age 87.
Visitation will be held Thursday, May 30, at the Church of Christ in Green Hills, 3805 Granny White Pike in Nashville from 12-2 p.m., followed by a funeral service at 2 p.m.
Loyd was known for his love for literature — particularly the works of Wilder, for giving literature a comfortable feel for his students, for bringing words to life through his special way of reading passages aloud, for being a master storyteller, his love for students academically and spiritually, his writing acumen and for his distinctive tenor voice singing hymns in chapel and worship services.
As a student at the high school and university, Loyd was involved in student publications.
The Nashville native began a lifelong association with Lipscomb when he enrolled in the then-David Lipscomb High School, from which he graduated in 1954. He then graduated from David Lipscomb College in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. While at the high school and college, Loyd was involved in the student newspaper and yearbooks staffs, serving as editor of each, and acting in student plays and productions. He completed a Master of Arts and Ph.D. at George Peabody College, where his dissertation focused on a study of Wilder’s novels.
After completing college, Loyd taught for one year at Metro Nashville Public Schools’ Maplewood High School. He then returned to Lipscomb where he taught English and journalism at the high school, where he also served as student publication advisor, from 1960-1969. At that time, he began teaching English and literature at the college. During his tenure he served as chair of the English Department, faculty coordinator of Singarama and faculty advisor of the Babbler student newspaper.
From 1977-82 and 1986-1993 in addition to his faculty role, Loyd also served as dean of students. In this role, he was known for his firmness but fairness and deep care for students.
“Dr. Loyd served with distinction as dean of students and earned a reputation for being as fair and compassionate as such a position can permit,” writes one former student. “He set a high standard of personal integrity as a friend, as a scholar and as a Christian that many of us still strive to emulate, and he continued to inspire many of us years later, both by words of encouragement and by shining example.”
Loyd could often be found mentoring and spending time with students.
One of Loyd's favorite places was with students.
Another shares that, “For many years I actually thought his first name was ‘Dean.’ Many times he went out of his way to serve students’ needs. His job as dean of students was a difficult one. I never heard anyone jealous of his position, yet never knew him to complain because he was in it. God has a purpose for everyone, and Dr. Loyd certainly found his.”
He also indulged in his special interest in acting, appearing in Lipscomb productions of “Our Town,” "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "The Man Who Came to Dinner." Loyd also read the names at graduation. As one former student reflects, “He was the ‘voice’ of Lipscomb. He announced the name of every graduating senior for years, and in a voice that made every graduate sound like somebody important.”
Read Loyd's essay, "And Gladly Teach," about the teaching profession that he prepared for Lipscomb faculty on Sept. 15, 1972.
Though he retired from full-time work at Lipscomb, he continued to serve as an adjunct professor and taught about 20 classes in Lipscomb's Lifelong Learning Program beginning in 2001. Loyd was named a Lipscomb Legend in 2006 and received the Mustang Alumni Award in 2023.
From the time he was a college student, Loyd was also a Churches of Christ preacher, serving as a minister at the Bethlehem and Gladeville congregations in Wilson County, Tennessee, and then at Reid Avenue, Brentwood Hills, Green Street and the Church of Christ in Green Hills (formerly known as Granny White) congregations in Nashville. He served as an elder at the Church of Christ in Green Hills for 23 years.
Loyd with his former student Tom Ingram (LA ’64, BA ’67).
In September 2023, Loyd shared memories of 100 years of student publications with other former advisors, from left, Randy Bouldin, David England and Kim Chaudoin.
Loyd was also a journalist. In addition to serving on the student publications staffs in high school and college and later as advisor, Loyd often wrote book reviews and articles for a variety of newspapers and publications across the country. In 1996, he began his role as associate editor of Gospel Advocate publications while continuing his faculty work. It was a role he maintained until earlier this year.
This past fall, Loyd along with several former Lipscomb colleagues sat down for a recorded discussion of reflections as the university celebrated 100 years of student publications. And in true journalistic fashion, Loyd made a comment near the end of that conversation that is a fitting coda to his life’s story. He mused, “It’s time to write 30 on this.”
Loyd is survived by his wife of 65 years, Shirley Nash Loyd, and his children, Lucinda (Doug) Burris, Melanie Pennington, and Chris (Stephanie) Loyd as well as his seven grandchildren.