How Pastor Ricky Floyd tried to make Memphis better

Yahoo

12-03-2025

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — As police continue to piece together what happened, many are reflecting on Pastor Ricky Floyd and his work in the community.
Pastor Floyd — who was killed in a shooting at a South Memphis bar early Wednesday — has been on WREG countless times about his efforts to make the city a better a place.
Pastor Ricky Floyd dead, woman charged after shooting at Memphis bar
'Just to see the joy on the people's faces,' he told WREG in 2015 at a turkey basket giveaway.
From food giveaways to city-wide prayer events, Floyd wasn't afraid to bring awareness to the city's problem and offer possible solutions.
'We believe it's time for the church to make its presence known,' Floyd said at the first Memphis Prayer 365 where people of different denominations, different races gathered north of the downtown Tennessee Visitors Center.
He was especially passionate about helping the inner-city youth.
'The children are the future of this city,' Floyd said at the mayor's prayer breakfast in 2018. 'Many of them, before they are even in a position to be an attribution, are being destroyed by poverty, crime and violence.'
He launched the Husband Institute in 2013, which is a mentoring program that pairs men with boys to help them transition into adulthood. In 2017, a 11-year-old participant said it's helped him mature.
'I've learned how to grow up in life and then how to handle those that's not really on the exact same level as you are – handle people that are having a very bad day,' Eric Neal told WREG.
Floyd was big on improving Frasyer.
'We've got to reduce environments where the criminal will feel safe,' he said.
He even turned blight across from his Pursuit of God church into businesses where teens could work. He hoped to keep them out of trouble and earn some money.
Over the years, he opened his church, offered aid and extended his efforts across the city.
Floyd took charge of the Civilian Law Enforcement Review Board. It's a group appointed to investigate allegations of police misconduct.
'We are a voice to the voiceless,' he said in an interview in 2020. 'It's a dangerous combination when you have a lack of trust of community and then the fear that infiltrated police officers.'
He was a believer of reform and the work.
'I have a lot more confidence on who we are and what we're doing,' Floyd said.
Floyd's motivation also stemmed from his own stories. In 2016, he was carjacked at a South Memphis gas station when he stopped to put air in his tire.
Local pastor meets the man who carjacked him
'When I stood up, to my surprise I see someone sitting in the car,' he said soon after it happened. 'I got drug for a while, flipped over for a while.'
Two years later, we were there when he met the man who said he did it just before he turned himself into police. Floyd offered forgiveness. He even offered a hug and prayer.
'It's about liberating myself by not holding on to anger and bitterness,' Floyd said.
In 2020, when far too many children became victims of gun violence. Floyd told us about his ongoing efforts again.
'What's happened is that gangs have become a replica for structure. The family structure that many of these boys need, want and deserve,' he stated.
One of the boys, Jeremiah Cotton, told Your News Leader the mentoring program helped him find his music and avoid a path he didn't want to be on.
Frayser pastor shot Monday, same day he was featured on WREG
'It stopped me from doing a lot of things that I would've done. Probably would be in worse trouble than I've gotten in. Probably would've sent me to jail or worse,' Cotton said.
The same day the story aired, someone followed Floyd's car and shot him.
'They unloaded several rounds into my car. Five hit the car and one hit my leg,' Floyd said.
He believed he healed quickly, because he had an assignment.
'I think God needs me here to feel the pain of the people. It's not enough for me to sympathize. Now, I can empathize with families who've experienced this unwarranted violence on their life,' he said.
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