On a Thursday afternoon, Floyd arrives at Parole Project’s office to meet with volunteer Robyn Duvall for a financial planning session. As soon as he walks through the door, he is greeted with a warm and loud, “Big Fluuuuu!” by Parole Project staff and clients.
Floyd’s nickname is Big Flu. It’s a play on his last name, but also a testament to his nature. He’s neither flashy nor loud but moves through life like a quiet force, someone who has already weathered the worst and keeps pushing forward.
He has been out of prison for two years and in that time has purchased a truck, secured a job, and has his own apartment. Now he is focused on financial planning and working closely with Duvall, who recently retired from a career in financial management. She greets Floyd with a hug and a smile, excited about their sessions together.
“He’s motivated to learn, and a lot of people who end up in a bad situation aren’t like that,” Duvall said. “I love that it’s so important to him and that he is wanting the knowledge. It’s been incredible working with him.”
In 1997, during Mardi Gras in Lafayette, Floyd made a devastating choice that would alter the course of his life. He was sentenced to life without parole and spent the next 26 years incarcerated at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. He received his second chance when his sentence was commuted and he was ultimately paroled in December 2023.
“Walking into prison was an experience,” he said. “But I knew who I was, and how I was raised. My mental capacity was so strong. I was going to adapt and overcome, no matter the adversity. I’d never been in jail before, but I endured. I stayed focused. I refused to fall into the cracks. All praise to my mom and the way she brought me up. I stayed focused and it was all about mental capacity.”
Raised by a single mom who died when he was a young teenager, Floyd grew up in the Lafayette countryside. He was an athletic child – passionate most about football and wrestling. He was a bigger kid than his teammates, but his heart matched his stature, and friends and family recalled him as a polite, cordial, peaceful and gentle teenager.
“I always played a lot of sports, and we had a big graduating high school class with a lot of camaraderie that we still have today,” he said. He attended Nichols State University for two years on an athletic scholarship but never finished.
While incarcerated at the Louisiana State Penitentiary, he mentored other men, cooked, and organized events for those living with him at Camp C.
“Growing up, I could get down a little bit,” he said laughing and chatting about his life-long passion for cooking. “I love smothered cabbage with smoked sausage, baked porkchops and I make a mean pot of red beans.”
When he was released, he was grateful for the support of Parole Project to help him relearn a world that had moved on without him. He learned how to use a cell phone, how to find a job, and how to navigate social norms.
“It gives you a foundation and helps you with society,” he said. “When I left at a young age, the world was a different place. When I came back, I didn’t understand a lot. Everything changed so fast and Parole Project helped me get back to society, slowly and with a lot of support. If I had gone home to my family, it would have been hard. They have their own lives, and they wouldn’t have had time to show me some of the simple things like using a cell phone. Being with Parole Project worked out really well for me. There was a transition I knew I needed to take, and I’m glad I took that step.”
He sought employment after his release, accepting temp jobs with companies in Baton Rouge – including working at a Savannah Bananas baseball game in March 2024, and at baseball games at LSU’s Alex Box Stadium. He now works at a plant in West Baton Rouge, where he does administrative work.
In his downtime, he enjoys playing cards and dominoes with his cousins in Lafayette. A devoted Dallas Cowboys fan, football games are a highlight. And although his wrestling days are behind him, he still gets a thrill from watching WWE matches.
While he is determined and focused on developing his financial security, he said he doesn’t define success by money.
“You can define success in me and how I am. I’m focused and determined. I’m striving and I keep my feet on the ground, one step at a time,” he said. “I think my mom would be proud.”
