Lloyd Phillips, who has spent countless hours making Osceola County a better place through his work with the Caribbean and Florida Association, has been recognized as the Lt. Lloyd Burton, Jr. Service Award winner by Osceola County Commissioners.
Joined by his wife Delilah, he received the award at the Feb. 21 County Commission meeting.
The Osceola Board of County Commissioners created the Lt. Lloyd Burton, Jr. Service Award in 2016 as part of its celebration of Black History Month. Burton was the first black deputy to serve the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office when he was hired in December 1966. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1975 and retired in 1976, concluding a 30-year career in law enforcement. Before he passed away, Burton founded the Black Benevolence Association, which offered aid and protection to its members and to their dependents.
Burton served most of his 13 years with the office – much in the “Ranch and Grove” Division, which was a mainstay of rural Osceola in the days before the creation of Walt Disney World. The Lake Alfred native was . Known for his morals, ethics and values, Burton spent 30 years in law enforcement, serving and protecting the community he loved.
The Caribbean and Florida Association (CAFA), an Osceola County non-profit formed in 1990 to assist new arrivals to Central Florida, particularly those with Caribbean backgrounds. CAFA focuses on helping those in need, while promoting cultural diversity and community involvement. Its members are involved in all aspects of the community – including annual events such as scholarships awards for high school students, a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway, Christmas baskets for residents of assisted living facilities and the Caribbean Fusion Festival, held annually at the Kissimmee Lakefront every April.
“Mr. Phillips’ leadership has been at the forefront of making Osceola County a better place for everyone since moving here in 1996,” said Osceola County Commission Vice Chairwoman Viviana Janer. “His contributions have helped residents — young and old — find happiness, well-being and opportunities to improve their lives.”
Phillips followed an older brother who came here in 1988. As a teenager, his parents moved the family to New York from Guyana. He credited his parents for his passion for public service. His father served in the “British Regiment” there and that service and his mother’s community work was passed on to him and his siblings.
“I’ve always believed in giving back to the community,” said Phillips. “As a family, we pride ourselves on helping folks to enjoy a better way of life.”
Phillips said he was particularly proud of CAFA’s efforts to help victims of disasters in the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and Haiti.
Past honorees of the award include Burton, Jr. himself, along with community activists and leaders Anna Pinellas, Eugenia Agard, Belinda Johnson-Cornett and Deloris McMillon
