Lloyd Kerford was born 6 September 1894 to George Washington and Ella Riley Kerford in Atchison, Kansas. In 1886 George W. Kerford went into business for himself excavating rock and producing riprap for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. This was the beginning of the George W. Kerford Quarry Company. In addition to Lloyd, George W. and Ella Kerford had three other children: George Henry, Clarence, and Priscilla.

George W. Kerford died December 7, 1914 and his eldest sons, George Henry and Lloyd, continued the Quarry Company. After George Henry's 7 July 1941 death, his eldest son George Edward continued the partnership with his uncle, Lloyd. In 1944 the United States Government leased a large excavated mine from the Kerford Quarry Company for use as a natural storage cooler. The company expanded its operations to Amazonia, Missouri in 1947 and to Ashland, Nebraska in 1951. Lloyd Kerford retired from the company in 1961.

In 1944 Lloyd Kerford attended the Republican National Convention; he was the first African American delegate-at-large to be elected from Kansas. Kerford also served for many years on the Advisory Board to the Kansas Board of Regents and was an active member of the Methodist Church.

Lloyd Kerford married Lucille Dorsey; the couple had a son, Lloyd Kerford, Jr., who obtained a business degree from the University of Kansas and who joined his father in the Quarry Company. Lloyd Kerford, Sr. died August 1, 1968. The George W. Kerford Quarry Company went out of business in the early 1960s.