The life of Dr. Willard Laverne McCloud, Sr. begins on the other side of a creek in Winston-Salem's oldest African-American neighborhood – Happy Hill.  This fact is an essential part of the background needed to understand the past and present day context that frames the enormity of Dr. McCloud's life and the accomplishments of his 92 years.  Born in 1925 to a single-mother, Clara K. McCloud, in the shadows of World War I, Dr. McCloud was aware from an early age of the many gifts bestowed upon him by God, family, and a small community that surrounded and encouraged him to excel.  Dr. McCloud possessed a once in a generation mind coupled with extraordinary academic prowess and stunning cognitive abilities that he used effectively to chart a life that would lead him over the creek into some of Winston-Salem's most prominent circles.   Known to many as having an "elephant brain," Dr. McCloud's recall of facts, figures and history were legendary right up until his final days.

Dr. McCloud graduated from Simon G. Atkins High School in 1941 with the highest grade point average ever achieved in the school's history – a record that to this day has only been tied, never broken.  With a $500 loan for college that someone else had to guarantee for his mother, Clara, he set out into the world with nothing more than intellect, ambition, and a sense that the key to whatever future success in life he would have rested squarely on getting a good education.  He entered Talladega College in 1941, left early to attend Meharry Medical College in 1944, and would graduate as a medical doctor in 1948 at the ripe young age of 22.

After medical school, Dr. McCloud's journey took him to Howard University's Freedman's Hospital where he would start his residency in General Surgery in 1949.  While there, Dr. McCloud met and married Elaine Anastasia Delahoussaye from New Orleans, Louisiana, a graduate of Xavier University and a nurse in training at Freedman's.  They were married in 1949, and blessed with one son, Willard L. McCloud, Jr.   Dr. McCloud moved back to Winston-Salem with his family in 1950 and completed his training at Kate Bitting Reynolds Memorial Hospital.  He would go on to practice medicine for the next 54 years delivering over 4,000 babies in the city before losing count.

Dr. McCloud served his country during the Korean War from 1953 – 1955 in the United States Air Force Medical Corps.  He was stationed in Germany at Fürstenfeldbruck Air Base, achieved the rank of Captain, and was honorably discharged in 1955.  In that year, he returned to Winston-Salem and continued building his medical practice and life in Winston-Salem.

Dr. McCloud and his wife, Elaine, were gracious host and consummate socialites in Winston-Salem throughout their lives constantly entertaining and opening their home for social gatherings.  He was a life-long member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, the Bachelor Benedict Club, and the Social Promoters.

Dr. McCloud knew that his life story from Happy Hill to Spaulding Drive was a remarkable one, and he was always happy to share it with others.  His most enduring life lesson — that education was the key to success —was a regular subject of discussion with his family and the host of others he would mentor throughout his life.  He was a living embodiment that through education, hard-work, faith and dedication to bettering one's self, the American dream was available to all.

Known to his family and friends simply as "Grossie," Dr. McCloud leaves to share the many stories of his extraordinary life a son, Dr. Willard McCloud, Jr., better known as "Squawky" and a daughter-in-law, Margaret Brown McCloud, who was affectionately known to him simply as "Daughter."; two grandchildren, Willard Laverne McCloud, III of Minneapolis, Minnesota and Margaret Monique McCloud-Manley (Kwame) of McLean, Virginia who are the parents of his two great-grandchildren, Margaret McKenzie Manley and Justin Jangha Manley.  Dr. McCloud also leaves behind a life-long friend, confidant, and companion, Dr. Virginia K. Newell, whom he has known for over 75 years.  And finally, he leaves a long list of extended family, nieces, nephews, family friends, fraternity brothers, social acquaintances, as well as a host of others who simply knew him as "the man who delivered me."

Graveside services will be held at 11:00am Saturday, November 25, 2017 in Evergreen Cemetery with Rev. Dr. Paul Lowe officiating.
The Omega Service of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. will be held at 6:00pm; the Sigma Pi Phi Boule' Burial Rites will be held at 6:15pm; and the family visitation will be held from 6:30pm until 8:00pm on Friday, November 24, 2017 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel.