By Anne Levin

The Princeton community turned out in force last Saturday at Nassau Presbyterian Church for the memorial service of longtime civil servant James Arthur Floyd Sr. Floyd, who was Princeton’s first African American mayor, died May 14 at the age of 96.

Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman, local historian Shirley Satterfield, Princeton Community Housing director Edward Truscelli, Robert E. Humes of the Mercer County Community College Foundation, and a representative from Floyd’s beloved Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity praised him for his commitment to equality, community, voting rights, freedom for those unfairly incarcerated, and fair housing. Many references were made — in good humor — to Floyd’s forceful personality.

“He was at times, approachable,” said the Reverend John White, former pastor of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church, of which Floyd was a member. “Other times … he would leave you talking to yourself and running in the opposite direction,” he said, to laughter from the audience. “But Jim Floyd was simply seeking the best from those of us who were in his sphere.”

Satterfield said she was intimidated by Floyd at first, but soon realized he was “a big teddy bear.” He was key in efforts to have the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood designated as Princeton’s 20th historic district, in getting a resolution passed to make it possible for the founding of Princeton Community Housing, and beginning the regular meetings of the Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Association, which continue today. “I hope to see there is a memorial in Princeton to honor James Arthur Floyd Sr., a man for all seasons,” she said.

Truscelli described Floyd as “an ardent activist for fairness and equal opportunity.” When Floyd died, “we lost a voice for community and equality,” he said. Humes said Floyd was a mentor to him after the two met when Floyd was vice president of human relations at ETS, and Humes was newly appointed to the same position at Squibb. “He took me under his wing,” he said. Floyd joined the board of Mercer County Community College in 1989, “because it had the potential to address people in need.” Humes joined four years later and the two remained colleagues there until 2016.

Watson-Coleman said Floyd was “a giant in our community and in my life,” and a friend of her father’s who always spoke up against prejudice and bigotry. “He was one of those people who believed in leveling the playing field and providing opportunity for all,” she said.

Floyd was born in Trenton and graduated in 1939 from Trenton Central High School, going on to the Trenton School of Industrial Design and West Virginia State College, where he was president of his class and played basketball. He was a charter member and president of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Floyd and his family moved to Princeton in 1961. He served on the Planning Board, Princeton Township Committee, and was named mayor of the Township in 1971. He retired from ETS in 1987.

Several of those who spoke mentioned Floyd’s devotion to jazz. As the service concluded, the Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, featuring well known trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, played as family and friends filed into the church’s reception hall for a gathering and more music.