He was an Associate Reformed Presbyterian minister and served pastorates at Bethel and Ebenezer Churches in Georgia, and the Greenwood South Carolina ARP Church. For several years he was a missionary of the ARP church in Pakistan where he worked primarily with 14 village schools sponsored by the ARP Church. After returning to the United States he was chaplain for 25 years with the South Carolina Department of Corrections, and for the same 25 years he was a chaplain with the South Carolina Army National Guard, Retired Lieutenant Colonel.
He was a prolific writer of articles and a column called "Stories That I Like" which ran 15 years in the Summerville, South Carolina Journal-Scene newspaper. He also wrote articles for the Drew County Historical Society.
His parents were the late William John Boyd, II and Effie Mitchell Boyd, of Monticello, AR. After his father John passed away in 1957, Billy operated his father's drug store Boyd Rexall Drug in Monticello for two years until he returned to Columbia Theological Seminary to finish his degree. During those two years in Monticello he served as the student pastor of the Monticello (Wood Avenue) ARP Church.
He was an avid fisherman in the Florida Everglades in his Monticello DuraCraft Boat and enjoyed telling other fisherman about the origin of their boats in Monticello.
Bill is survived by his wife, Dr. Tommie V. Boyd; four children, William John Boyd IV, Katherine Boyd Shea, Elizabeth Boyd Kellner, and Kimberly Anne Boyd Vincentsen. He also had one daughter, Patricia Ann Boyd Horton, who preceded him in death.
He was blessed with 13 grandchildren, Brett Michael Landis, Amy Elizabeth Landis, Brenna Collen Shea, Hannah Delaney Shea, Benjamin Frank Kellner, Annie Grace Kellner, Halley Elise Kellner, Tabitha Haley Vincentsen, Zachary Martin Boyd Vincentsen, Amelia Grace Vincentsen, Kevin Boyd, William John Boyd V, and Cassidy Hyler Boyd; a great-grandson, David and a great-granddaughter, Braxleigh.
Bill lived a life of goodness, service and kindness and he never met a stranger.
Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2015 at Wood Avenue Presbyterian Church with Rev. Michael Garvey officiating. Burial with military honors will be held in Oakland Cemetery. Online guestbook www.stephensondearman.com. Memorials may be made to: Nova Southeastern University, Dept. of Family Therapy Scholarship Fund, 3301 S. University Dr., Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33314 or Wood Ave. Presbyterian Church, c/o Rev. Mike Garvey, 120 Ross Dr., Monticello, AR 71655.
Condolences(3)
Ray & Robbie Foster
Lansdowne, VA Tuesday, October 27, 2015 We were very sorry to hear of Billy passing. Our prayers and thoughts are with the family at this time. I (Robbie Ellis) graduated with Billy in the class of '51 from Monticello High School. We were always glad to see him at the reunions to talk over the 'good ole times'. We shall miss him.He was a wonderful person and a very good friend.Dorothy Adcock McWhorter
Ft. Worth, TX Thursday, October 22, 2015 I remember Billy as a member of our 1939 Monticello First Grade Class.On behalf of the 1951 MHS graduating class, we send our deepest sympathy to the family.
Bobby&Margaret Gilliam
Sreveport, LA Monday, October 19, 2015 Our prayers are for Billy Boyd as we knew him andAll his family. He got many of us to join the Boy Scouts in
Monticello, Arkansas before we moved to town even.
I could go on for hours. He wrote a lot and Boyds
Drug store was well known. We all were sorry he moved away. he wrote a lot.