A TRIBUTE TO MY PRECIOUS, LOVING DADDY
REVEREND LEV SHIELDS BOSTICK

Lev Shields Bostick was the son of James Thurman and Nancy Carlee Jordan Bostick. He was the grandson of Ancil Chesley (A.C.) and Mary Jane Walker Bostick, the great-grandson of Nathaniel (N.A.) and Caroline Stovall Bostick, and the great-great grandson of Floyd and Rosannah Murray Bostick, as well as the grandson of his maternal grandparents, Thomas and Elizabeth "Bettie" Jordan, and the great-grandson of Burroll and Mary (Cooper) Pruitt, and great-great grandson of Thomas and Nancy Vaughn Priutt.

Lev was born August 13, 1925. He grew up at his parents Elora, Tennessee, farm, which was very close to the Alabama state line. He worked on the family farm, and had a love for all animals. He attended grade school in Plevna, Alabama.

Lev joined the Army at a young age, and was a WW11 veteran who served overseas in several countries and was awarded several medals. Lev's older brother and first-born child of James Thurman and Nancy Carlee Bostick, Leonard Bevna Bostick, was a medic who was killed in WW11 (Bevna is buried in Murfreesboro, Tennessee at Stones River National Cemetery).Daddy felt compelled to join the Army after his brother died while serving. I believe it was his way of honoring not only his country, but his older brother he loved dearly.

After his Army tour was over, Lev and Mary Helen Bradford (Bostick)were married on February 24, 1947 in Winchester, Tennessee, by the Rev. Arthur McGuire, at 100 Oaks Castle. Present as witnesses at their wedding was Betty Jane Bostick, sister of Lev, and Dolores Bradford, sister of Mary Helen. Both young ladies were very good friends as well, and were so happy to attend their big brother's and big sister's wedding. To this union was born four daughters- Barbara, Shirley, Teresa, and Kimberly (we say our names stand for "Bostick" -BSTK...as a joke between sisters).

In addition to Bevna, Daddy had other siblings- Earl, Ethel, Elaine, Betty Jane, Emma Lee, Nathan, and Jimmy. There was also an infant girl, Pauline, who passed on.

Daddy was an ordained minister, and never would allow me or my sisters to address him as "father"...he said we have one FATHER- JESUS CHRIST...and to just call him "Daddy", and we did.

Daddy preached his first sermon at Oakley Baptist Church in Plevna, Alabama, where he was ordained. During his ministry, he held the position of Pastor at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Huntland, Tennessee, Elora Baptist Church in Elora, Tennessee, and New Hope Baptist in Lincoln, Tennessee. Daddy loved to preach at revivals, and presided over revivals at several churches, including Beech Grove Baptsit Church in Jackson County, Alabama.

As pastor, he performed the marriage ceremonies of many couples, including his daughter, Teresa, to Danny Thompson, on March 18, 1972, and prior to their wedding the same year, he performed the wedding of his sister Elaine Scott's son (his nephew), Charles Scott, to his wife Sherry, on January 22, 1972.

He conducted the funeral service of his favored cousin, Alph Bostick, as well, in January, 1973. Daddy passed away three months later himself. His service as a minister is still remembered by many, even to this day.

Daddy went to be with the Lord in April, 1973, from injuries sustained in a car accident, which occurred a mile from his home. His home-going celebration was held at Oakley Baptist Church with Rev. Boyd LeCroy officiating on April 26, 1973.

Lev, my Daddy, was the best daddy in the world! He was a very loving father and grandfather, and his presence is missed still today. He was a "fire and brimstone" preacher; he cared about people's souls, and the youth at New Hope Baptist loved him. On Sundays after church, it was not unusual to see all the kids come to his house to play basketball, in which he was a willing participant! He was a fan of baseball and boxing. He spoiled me, and even bought me a pony named "Princess". He loved to swim, and he would bring my mother home presents almost daily. He also loved to pick honeysuckles for her, and any kind of wildflowers that would be in bloom at whatever time of the year that it was. Daddy loved beautiful flowers, nature, and animals. He let me have any kind of pet I wanted- I had cats, dogs, chickens, turtles, cows, pigs, a pony- just about anything that had fur or feathers!

Daddy also loved to paint and to farm. I remember riding "Katie", our mule, while Daddy would plow the field. Daddy let me "drive" his tractor when I was 4 years old while I would let him "assist" me. I was my Daddy's shadow...where he was, there I would be as well!

One of my favorite memories of Daddy is when he, Mama, and I went to the lake for a picnic and to swim. I was about seven years old. Daddy and I were sitting in the water playing, and a turtle came up and Daddy didn't see it and it bumped into him...he jumped straight up out of the water like a rocket, and I sat there laughing my head off at him! He laughed, too, after he saw it was just a turtle and not a "shark"...LOL! He was so much fun to be with!

Daddy's friends from work would come over on Saturdays sometimes and play baseball in our field. People just loved to be around Daddy. He was funny, and loved to kid around, and so kind to everyone. He could reach people...that is why the Lord called him to preach, I believe...his ability to reach out and help those in need, and the love he had for others. It was not uncommon for Daddy to leave in the middle of the night, and head to the hospital in Nashville, Huntsville, or wherever there was a need when the phone call came...and would pray at the bedside of those who called on him.

Daddy was a foreman at Barber- Coleman Corporation in Huntsville, and was employed there until he had his accident and passed on to his Savior Jesus Christ.

I am definitely my Daddy's daughter...I share the same love of the Lord as he did and I love to teach God's word, and I love to talk about the disciples of Jesus. I am working on a study of the disciples. I feel the Lord blessed me with some of my Daddy's zeal for the Word; my Daddy would be so happy to know the Lord blessed me to have brought my first message from the pulpit on September 18, 2016! I had his Bible with me and read from it, which was very special to me. The Bible is my favorite book in the world! And, just like my Daddy, I too stood at the same cemetery my Daddy did, and eulogized my cousin Deirdra Scott, in 2020.

I love you, Daddy, and I miss you- there are not enough words to tell you enough about Lev Bostick; he was a wonderful man of God, loving Father, loving friend, and faithful man!

Grandchildren (oldest to youngest): Brian (deceased), Hope, Bridget, Robin, Syreeta (deceased), and Leah; great-grandchildren (oldest to youngest) Chad, Austin, Brittany, Trucker, Heather, Matthew, Whitley, Abi, Wynter, Nicholas, Olivia, R. J., Wynsdai, Zoe, Sarah, Rhys, Luke , Wryder, Jacob, and great-great grandsons Jai Lev (named after him), Reign, and great granddaughter, Jayde