Brother Lloyd Graham In Memoriam

By Office of Communications & Marketing | Sep 10, 2026

The Downstate community mourns the passing of Lloyd “Brother Lloyd” Graham, a longtime member of the Downstate family who died on August 31, 2026, just days after celebrating his eighty-eighth birthday.

Born in Manchester, Jamaica, Brother Lloyd came to the United States in 1961. His unmistakable Jamaican accent never left him, nor did the deep faith, strong work ethic, and larger-than-life presence that defined him.

He was immensely proud of his sons and the lives they built with their wives. Two of his sons hold executive leadership positions within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, reflecting the faith, discipline, and sense of purpose he instilled in his family. His son Garry later served Downstate for nine years and earned his Master of Public Health here, with a focus on community and immigrant health. Garry is now a licensed mental health counselor, behavioral health consultant, and private practitioner.

Brother Lloyd was a devoted member of Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church in Brooklyn, where he sang in the choir in his booming bass voice. He loved music, especially singing Handel’s Messiah. Because he loved it so much, his family took him to Lincoln Center each year to hear it performed, a cherished tradition centered on something that brought him so much joy.

He loved the Mets, politics, and MSNBC. Whether the subject was baseball, government, church, or Downstate, Brother Lloyd had an opinion, and he wasn’t shy about sharing it. His advice to his sons was just as direct and memorable: “If everyone likes you, you have a problem.” He believed in standing firm, speaking honestly, and doing what was right, even when it wasn’t popular.

Brother Lloyd brought that same spirit to his 31 years at Downstate, before retiring in 1999. As a member of the Refrigeration & Air Conditioning team in FM&D, he knew every air-conditioning unit in the hospital, and probably had a name for each one.

His work was about much more than keeping the equipment running. Brother Lloyd could often be found “socializing” throughout the hospital, but that socializing was part of the job. He knew people, listened to them, built relationships, and understood what was happening across the institution. He was among the first to arrive when something needed attention and someone others could count on to help.

His Downstate connection became a family legacy. His sisters-in-law, Ivilyn Larman and Gertrude Dolphy, also worked at Downstate and are now retired.

Brother Lloyd was the second to last surviving member of a family of ten siblings. His passing closes an important chapter in his family’s history, but his influence continues. He and his wife, Gerzel, shared 58 years of marriage and raised three sons: Garry, Paul, and Patrick, daughters-in-law, Nilsa, Windy, and Natalie, and six grandchildren. He was loved and respected by his church family and the many Downstate colleagues who knew him.

We extend our deepest condolences to Gerzel, the entire Graham family, and Brother Lloyd’s friends, former colleagues, and church family.

Brother Lloyd Graham may have been short in stature, but he was unmistakably big in presence. His 31 years of service will remain part of Downstate’s history, along with the faith, humor, candor, and friendship he shared so freely.

Memorial Service

Maryland
Friday, September 11, 2026
Restoration Praise Center
14201 Stage Road | Bowie, Maryland 20720

Viewing at 10:00 a.m. | Service at 11:00 a.m.

New York
Sunday, September 20, 2026
Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church
457 Grand Avenue | Brooklyn, New York 11238

Viewing at 2:00 p.m. | Service at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Lloyd Graham Religion and Theology Scholarship at Oakwood University through www.FaithPartners.org.