NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lloyd Householder, longtime employee of the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention (now Lifeway Christian Resources) died Jan. 30. He was 81.
Householder was born in Cleveland, Tenn., in 1929. He earned a B.A. from Carson-Newman College; and M.Div., M.R.E. and D.Ed. degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He came to the Sunday School Board in 1960 as director of church related vocation guidance; in 1968 he became manager of the church training department; in 1977 he became director of the office of communication; and in 1987 he was promoted to assistant vice president for the office of communications. He retired in 1992.
Householder was a member of the Religion Communicators Council, Baptist Communicators Association, and served both organizations as national president. He was also a member of the Public Relations Society of America and several other professional public relations organizations. He was strategic in the formation of the Religion Communications Congress in 1980, a decennial multi-faith gathering that assembles communicators from the field of religion from around the world.
Householder was also active in and served on the board of the Baptist World Alliance for many years.
Former communications department head Linda Lawson worked with Householder for several years. She said, “Throughout Lloyd’s career, his leadership always included innovative approaches to any task at hand. He supported people to grow professionally and trusted them to do their work at a high level. I appreciate the opportunities he gave me to serve with him in communications.”
Householder and his wife, Rose Marie, had been married 56 years. They have two grown children, Thom Householder and Ashley Householder Lockwood.
Funeral arrangements with Brentwood Funeral Home in Brentwood, Tenn., are pending.
by Polly House, Communications Department
