Billy James Boykin, Sr., "Cowboy", age 85, passed away peacefully in his home in Lisman, Alabama surrounded by loved ones on August 20, 2023 from complications due to Alzheimer's Disease.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at Heritage Church of God in Gilbertown, AL, with Reverend John Sweeney and Reverend Ricky Dement officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 22, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Heritage Church of God. Interment will be in the Providence Cemetery in Butler, AL.
Billy was born on January 15, 1938 at his parents' home in Choctaw County to Bill and Stella Boykin. He grew up in Butler, the oldest son of Bill and Stella's nine children. His life was hard as his family faced years of scarcity after the Great Depression and into the years of World War II. Jobs were hard to find and his parents struggled to provide for he and his siblings. Billy and his brothers would hunt deer, turkey, rabbits, and squirrels trying never to waste a bullet knowing that a "miss" would mean no meat for the family. The great "need" of his family during those years drove Billy to find ways to always have enough for the necessities of life. He picked cotton with his uncles and worked in the school cafeteria to help provide food for he and his siblings. He was embarrassed for his friends to see him work in the cafeteria, but the embarrassment never surpassed his siblings' need. After high school he joined the Marine Corp; and the need to provide for the family still drove him. He sent money home to his parents on a regular basis, and his siblings recall a special Christmas and how he showed up with wonderful presents. He was excited to give each one of his four brothers their first gun, and he gave each of his four sisters a cashmere sweater with a matching silk scarf. He was so proud to be able to give them these gifts, and his siblings never forgot his act of love.
When Billy returned home from his military service, he was sitting at a red light in Butler when his future wife, Peggy, walked across the street in front of his car. He told his children many times over the years about exactly what she was wearing and how beautiful she was. He began his pursuit of Peggy that day, and he has spent the last sixty-two years of his life as her husband. One of the last things I heard him say was, "Look at her! Ain't she the prettiest woman you ever saw!" His love for her has driven him to be a better man. It took him – as he would say – a LONG time to realize how rare a woman like her was. He'd repeat over and over that she was such a LADY that she could walk across a plowed field in high heels and never miss a step. Their commitment to each other and their great love for each other is a testimony to what God can do if you will let Him be first in your marriage.
Those who knew Billy had no doubt that his family has always been his top priority. When Peggy delivered his first born, Mona, Billy had to adjust to his pace of work. Little two-year-old Mona insisted on being with him saying, "Daddy, I wanna hold your hand." Billy was seen on numerous occasions bent over holding her hand while working with just one hand. When his second child, Nina, was born, he was so disappointed that she wasn't a boy that he left the hospital and went to the cemetery to walk around and pout. He decided though that keeping her wouldn't be so bad when he came back and laid his head on the bed next to Peggy and Nina – only to awaken and find her tiny hand holding his finger. His heart almost exploded when his first son, Billy Jr., was born. His pride swelled even more when Peggy gave birth to a second son, Andre, just a couple of years later. He boasted – even in his last days – that Billy Jr. was his right arm and Andre was his left arm. His pride in both his sons was enormous. He trusted them and counted on them to always be there. When his baby girl, Dawn, was born, Billy had mellowed a little, and everyone could see that he was smitten. She got away with much more – well EVERYTHING? She even dug around in his dinner plate with her dirty fingers, and he wouldn't even let Peggy drink after him! When he took his last breath and opened his eyes, she was probably the first thing he saw because you all know Dawn – she probably knocked his parents down to get in the front of the line!
Our family has struggled with loss over the past three weeks, and these hard days have taught us the value of the lessons that Daddy tried so hard to instill in us. Life Lesson #1: Love God and do all you can to do what the Bible says. Life Lesson #2: This world will not give you anything. Life can be hard and tough times will come. Be a Marine – overcome, adapt, adjust. Life Lesson #3: Work hard. "A man should be buried with his palms facing up so that everyone can see the calluses and know how hard he worked" … "and remember whatever you own owns you". Life Lesson #4: Love your family well – blood is everything. The same blood that flows in your veins flows in theirs.
Daddy was a good man – flawed like all men – but a good man. Through his sickness, we have all known that this day was coming, and we have had time to reflect on not just Billy the husband, father, grandfather, or great grandfather, but Billy as a man…a man who through the years chose to sacrifice his wants and needs for his family's wants and needs. When given a meal ticket for hot food in the mill cafeteria during unexpected overtime hours, he chose to eat cans of potted meat and use his meal ticket to bring his family a gallon of ice cream. Instead of sleeping, he chose to stay up all night long working on the engine in his car so that he could get to work and make a paycheck for his family. Billy's life was so much more about sacrifice and provision than it was about attention or fame. Yes, he loved nothing better than the hand claps he received from an audience when he played his guitar and sang, but he always put the needs of his family first. It took him a few years to get past his "younger self's desire for the spotlight, but I recall him telling us about a day that his whole perspective changed. He'd given so much of his young life up to do for others that he wanted to do something for himself. The guitar provided that something. He'd spent a long time working during the week and playing the guitar on weekends. One night, he came in late from playing in the band to find my mother on a ladder painting the kitchen. In that moment, he realized that she had painted the whole house over a long period of time all while tending to the needs of his small children. It was that night that he realized that his wants was not nearly as important as her needs. He'd lost sight of what mattered. That night, he put his guitar in the closet and didn't pick it up for many years…not until most of us had lives of our own. He did pick it up and begin to play again – but this time – mama came along. You never saw him without her. You never saw him on stage without her in the audience cheering him on…his biggest fan! Daddy's life – like everyone else's – gives us all a chance to learn about what is truly important and what matters most.
We will miss you, Daddy. Your songs, your laughter, your stories about life…but we know that heaven is full of love and laughter today. We know that there are two sets of baby blue eyes – one a father's and one a daughter's – that are shining brightly! And we can just hear Dawn bubbling over with joy as she shows you all around your new home!
He is survived by his wife, Peggy D. Gibson-Boykin of Lisman, AL; sons, Billy James Boykin, Jr. (Kaye) of Butler, AL, and Andre Craig Boykin of Richton, MS; daughters, Mona B Clayton (Lewis) of Lauderdale, MS, Nina B. Butler (Gregg) of Lisman, AL; son-in-law, Keith Clark of Gilbertown, AL; brothers, Brad Boykin (Martha) of Meridian, MS, and Bruce Boykin (Diane) of Lisman, AL; sisters, Sybil Boykin of Lisman, AL, Ruth Lawson of Monroe, LA, Marie Hoidahl of Meridian, MS, and Maryl Boykin of Thomasville, AL; eighteen grandchildren, and twenty seven great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Dawn B. Clark; father, William A Boykin; and mother, Stella Mae Trull-Boykin.
Serving as pallbearers are Kristopher Lewis, Austin Butler, Billy J. Boykin, III, Jacob Boykin, Caleb Logan, Andre Craig Boykin, II, Gunner Boykin, Dillan Clark, Dawson Clark, and Dustin Clark. Honorary pallbearers are Lewis Clayton, Gregg Butler, Keith Clark, Bruce Boykin, Brad Boykin, Donnie Tucker, George Johnson, Tyler Carroll, Austin Watkins, Donna Hill, Bobby J. Boykin, and the staff of Traditions Hospice.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to South Choctaw Academy in name of Dustin Clark.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at Heritage Church of God in Gilbertown, AL, with Reverend John Sweeney and Reverend Ricky Dement officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 22, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Heritage Church of God. Interment will be in the Providence Cemetery in Butler, AL.
Billy was born on January 15, 1938 at his parents' home in Choctaw County to Bill and Stella Boykin. He grew up in Butler, the oldest son of Bill and Stella's nine children. His life was hard as his family faced years of scarcity after the Great Depression and into the years of World War II. Jobs were hard to find and his parents struggled to provide for he and his siblings. Billy and his brothers would hunt deer, turkey, rabbits, and squirrels trying never to waste a bullet knowing that a "miss" would mean no meat for the family. The great "need" of his family during those years drove Billy to find ways to always have enough for the necessities of life. He picked cotton with his uncles and worked in the school cafeteria to help provide food for he and his siblings. He was embarrassed for his friends to see him work in the cafeteria, but the embarrassment never surpassed his siblings' need. After high school he joined the Marine Corp; and the need to provide for the family still drove him. He sent money home to his parents on a regular basis, and his siblings recall a special Christmas and how he showed up with wonderful presents. He was excited to give each one of his four brothers their first gun, and he gave each of his four sisters a cashmere sweater with a matching silk scarf. He was so proud to be able to give them these gifts, and his siblings never forgot his act of love.
When Billy returned home from his military service, he was sitting at a red light in Butler when his future wife, Peggy, walked across the street in front of his car. He told his children many times over the years about exactly what she was wearing and how beautiful she was. He began his pursuit of Peggy that day, and he has spent the last sixty-two years of his life as her husband. One of the last things I heard him say was, "Look at her! Ain't she the prettiest woman you ever saw!" His love for her has driven him to be a better man. It took him – as he would say – a LONG time to realize how rare a woman like her was. He'd repeat over and over that she was such a LADY that she could walk across a plowed field in high heels and never miss a step. Their commitment to each other and their great love for each other is a testimony to what God can do if you will let Him be first in your marriage.
Those who knew Billy had no doubt that his family has always been his top priority. When Peggy delivered his first born, Mona, Billy had to adjust to his pace of work. Little two-year-old Mona insisted on being with him saying, "Daddy, I wanna hold your hand." Billy was seen on numerous occasions bent over holding her hand while working with just one hand. When his second child, Nina, was born, he was so disappointed that she wasn't a boy that he left the hospital and went to the cemetery to walk around and pout. He decided though that keeping her wouldn't be so bad when he came back and laid his head on the bed next to Peggy and Nina – only to awaken and find her tiny hand holding his finger. His heart almost exploded when his first son, Billy Jr., was born. His pride swelled even more when Peggy gave birth to a second son, Andre, just a couple of years later. He boasted – even in his last days – that Billy Jr. was his right arm and Andre was his left arm. His pride in both his sons was enormous. He trusted them and counted on them to always be there. When his baby girl, Dawn, was born, Billy had mellowed a little, and everyone could see that he was smitten. She got away with much more – well EVERYTHING? She even dug around in his dinner plate with her dirty fingers, and he wouldn't even let Peggy drink after him! When he took his last breath and opened his eyes, she was probably the first thing he saw because you all know Dawn – she probably knocked his parents down to get in the front of the line!
Our family has struggled with loss over the past three weeks, and these hard days have taught us the value of the lessons that Daddy tried so hard to instill in us. Life Lesson #1: Love God and do all you can to do what the Bible says. Life Lesson #2: This world will not give you anything. Life can be hard and tough times will come. Be a Marine – overcome, adapt, adjust. Life Lesson #3: Work hard. "A man should be buried with his palms facing up so that everyone can see the calluses and know how hard he worked" … "and remember whatever you own owns you". Life Lesson #4: Love your family well – blood is everything. The same blood that flows in your veins flows in theirs.
Daddy was a good man – flawed like all men – but a good man. Through his sickness, we have all known that this day was coming, and we have had time to reflect on not just Billy the husband, father, grandfather, or great grandfather, but Billy as a man…a man who through the years chose to sacrifice his wants and needs for his family's wants and needs. When given a meal ticket for hot food in the mill cafeteria during unexpected overtime hours, he chose to eat cans of potted meat and use his meal ticket to bring his family a gallon of ice cream. Instead of sleeping, he chose to stay up all night long working on the engine in his car so that he could get to work and make a paycheck for his family. Billy's life was so much more about sacrifice and provision than it was about attention or fame. Yes, he loved nothing better than the hand claps he received from an audience when he played his guitar and sang, but he always put the needs of his family first. It took him a few years to get past his "younger self's desire for the spotlight, but I recall him telling us about a day that his whole perspective changed. He'd given so much of his young life up to do for others that he wanted to do something for himself. The guitar provided that something. He'd spent a long time working during the week and playing the guitar on weekends. One night, he came in late from playing in the band to find my mother on a ladder painting the kitchen. In that moment, he realized that she had painted the whole house over a long period of time all while tending to the needs of his small children. It was that night that he realized that his wants was not nearly as important as her needs. He'd lost sight of what mattered. That night, he put his guitar in the closet and didn't pick it up for many years…not until most of us had lives of our own. He did pick it up and begin to play again – but this time – mama came along. You never saw him without her. You never saw him on stage without her in the audience cheering him on…his biggest fan! Daddy's life – like everyone else's – gives us all a chance to learn about what is truly important and what matters most.
We will miss you, Daddy. Your songs, your laughter, your stories about life…but we know that heaven is full of love and laughter today. We know that there are two sets of baby blue eyes – one a father's and one a daughter's – that are shining brightly! And we can just hear Dawn bubbling over with joy as she shows you all around your new home!
He is survived by his wife, Peggy D. Gibson-Boykin of Lisman, AL; sons, Billy James Boykin, Jr. (Kaye) of Butler, AL, and Andre Craig Boykin of Richton, MS; daughters, Mona B Clayton (Lewis) of Lauderdale, MS, Nina B. Butler (Gregg) of Lisman, AL; son-in-law, Keith Clark of Gilbertown, AL; brothers, Brad Boykin (Martha) of Meridian, MS, and Bruce Boykin (Diane) of Lisman, AL; sisters, Sybil Boykin of Lisman, AL, Ruth Lawson of Monroe, LA, Marie Hoidahl of Meridian, MS, and Maryl Boykin of Thomasville, AL; eighteen grandchildren, and twenty seven great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Dawn B. Clark; father, William A Boykin; and mother, Stella Mae Trull-Boykin.
Serving as pallbearers are Kristopher Lewis, Austin Butler, Billy J. Boykin, III, Jacob Boykin, Caleb Logan, Andre Craig Boykin, II, Gunner Boykin, Dillan Clark, Dawson Clark, and Dustin Clark. Honorary pallbearers are Lewis Clayton, Gregg Butler, Keith Clark, Bruce Boykin, Brad Boykin, Donnie Tucker, George Johnson, Tyler Carroll, Austin Watkins, Donna Hill, Bobby J. Boykin, and the staff of Traditions Hospice.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to South Choctaw Academy in name of Dustin Clark.
Billy James Boykin, Sr., "Cowboy", age 85, passed away peacefully in his home in Lisman, Alabama surrounded by loved ones on August 20, 2023 from complications due to Alzheimer's Disease.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at Heritage Church of God in Gilbertown, AL, with Reverend John Sweeney and Reverend Ricky Dement officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 22, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Heritage Church of God. Interment will be in the Providence Cemetery in Butler, AL.
Billy was born on January 15, 1938 at his parents' home in Choctaw County to Bill and Stella Boykin. He grew up in Butler, the oldest son of Bill and Stella's nine children. His life was hard as his family faced years of scarcity after the Great Depression and into the years of World War II. Jobs were hard to find and his parents struggled to provide for he and his siblings. Billy and his brothers would hunt deer, turkey, rabbits, and squirrels trying never to waste a bullet knowing that a "miss" would mean no meat for the family. The great "need" of his family during those years drove Billy to find ways to always have enough for the necessities of life. He picked cotton with his uncles and worked in the school cafeteria to help provide food for he and his siblings. He was embarrassed for his friends to see him work in the cafeteria, but the embarrassment never surpassed his siblings' need. After high school he joined the Marine Corp; and the need to provide for the family still drove him. He sent money home to his parents on a regular basis, and his siblings recall a special Christmas and how he showed up with wonderful presents. He was excited to give each one of his four brothers their first gun, and he gave each of his four sisters a cashmere sweater with a matching silk scarf. He was so proud to be able to give them these gifts, and his siblings never forgot his act of love.
When Billy returned home from his military service, he was sitting at a red light in Butler when his future wife, Peggy, walked across the street in front of his car. He told his children many times over the years about exactly what she was wearing and how beautiful she was. He began his pursuit of Peggy that day, and he has spent the last sixty-two years of his life as her husband. One of the last things I heard him say was, "Look at her! Ain't she the prettiest woman you ever saw!" His love for her has driven him to be a better man. It took him – as he would say – a LONG time to realize how rare a woman like her was. He'd repeat over and over that she was such a LADY that she could walk across a plowed field in high heels and never miss a step. Their commitment to each other and their great love for each other is a testimony to what God can do if you will let Him be first in your marriage.
Those who knew Billy had no doubt that his family has always been his top priority. When Peggy delivered his first born, Mona, Billy had to adjust to his pace of work. Little two-year-old Mona insisted on being with him saying, "Daddy, I wanna hold your hand." Billy was seen on numerous occasions bent over holding her hand while working with just one hand. When his second child, Nina, was born, he was so disappointed that she wasn't a boy that he left the hospital and went to the cemetery to walk around and pout. He decided though that keeping her wouldn't be so bad when he came back and laid his head on the bed next to Peggy and Nina – only to awaken and find her tiny hand holding his finger. His heart almost exploded when his first son, Billy Jr., was born. His pride swelled even more when Peggy gave birth to a second son, Andre, just a couple of years later. He boasted – even in his last days – that Billy Jr. was his right arm and Andre was his left arm. His pride in both his sons was enormous. He trusted them and counted on them to always be there. When his baby girl, Dawn, was born, Billy had mellowed a little, and everyone could see that he was smitten. She got away with much more – well EVERYTHING? She even dug around in his dinner plate with her dirty fingers, and he wouldn't even let Peggy drink after him! When he took his last breath and opened his eyes, she was probably the first thing he saw because you all know Dawn – she probably knocked his parents down to get in the front of the line!
Our family has struggled with loss over the past three weeks, and these hard days have taught us the value of the lessons that Daddy tried so hard to instill in us. Life Lesson #1: Love God and do all you can to do what the Bible says. Life Lesson #2: This world will not give you anything. Life can be hard and tough times will come. Be a Marine – overcome, adapt, adjust. Life Lesson #3: Work hard. "A man should be buried with his palms facing up so that everyone can see the calluses and know how hard he worked" … "and remember whatever you own owns you". Life Lesson #4: Love your family well – blood is everything. The same blood that flows in your veins flows in theirs.
Daddy was a good man – flawed like all men – but a good man. Through his sickness, we have all known that this day was coming, and we have had time to reflect on not just Billy the husband, father, grandfather, or great grandfather, but Billy as a man…a man who through the years chose to sacrifice his wants and needs for his family's wants and needs. When given a meal ticket for hot food in the mill cafeteria during unexpected overtime hours, he chose to eat cans of potted meat and use his meal ticket to bring his family a gallon of ice cream. Instead of sleeping, he chose to stay up all night long working on the engine in his car so that he could get to work and make a paycheck for his family. Billy's life was so much more about sacrifice and provision than it was about attention or fame. Yes, he loved nothing better than the hand claps he received from an audience when he played his guitar and sang, but he always put the needs of his family first. It took him a few years to get past his "younger self's desire for the spotlight, but I recall him telling us about a day that his whole perspective changed. He'd given so much of his young life up to do for others that he wanted to do something for himself. The guitar provided that something. He'd spent a long time working during the week and playing the guitar on weekends. One night, he came in late from playing in the band to find my mother on a ladder painting the kitchen. In that moment, he realized that she had painted the whole house over a long period of time all while tending to the needs of his small children. It was that night that he realized that his wants was not nearly as important as her needs. He'd lost sight of what mattered. That night, he put his guitar in the closet and didn't pick it up for many years…not until most of us had lives of our own. He did pick it up and begin to play again – but this time – mama came along. You never saw him without her. You never saw him on stage without her in the audience cheering him on…his biggest fan! Daddy's life – like everyone else's – gives us all a chance to learn about what is truly important and what matters most.
We will miss you, Daddy. Your songs, your laughter, your stories about life…but we know that heaven is full of love and laughter today. We know that there are two sets of baby blue eyes – one a father's and one a daughter's – that are shining brightly! And we can just hear Dawn bubbling over with joy as she shows you all around your new home!
He is survived by his wife, Peggy D. Gibson-Boykin of Lisman, AL; sons, Billy James Boykin, Jr. (Kaye) of Butler, AL, and Andre Craig Boykin of Richton, MS; daughters, Mona B Clayton (Lewis) of Lauderdale, MS, Nina B. Butler (Gregg) of Lisman, AL; son-in-law, Keith Clark of Gilbertown, AL; brothers, Brad Boykin (Martha) of Meridian, MS, and Bruce Boykin (Diane) of Lisman, AL; sisters, Sybil Boykin of Lisman, AL, Ruth Lawson of Monroe, LA, Marie Hoidahl of Meridian, MS, and Maryl Boykin of Thomasville, AL; eighteen grandchildren, and twenty seven great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Dawn B. Clark; father, William A Boykin; and mother, Stella Mae Trull-Boykin.
Serving as pallbearers are Kristopher Lewis, Austin Butler, Billy J. Boykin, III, Jacob Boykin, Caleb Logan, Andre Craig Boykin, II, Gunner Boykin, Dillan Clark, Dawson Clark, and Dustin Clark. Honorary pallbearers are Lewis Clayton, Gregg Butler, Keith Clark, Bruce Boykin, Brad Boykin, Donnie Tucker, George Johnson, Tyler Carroll, Austin Watkins, Donna Hill, Bobby J. Boykin, and the staff of Traditions Hospice.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to South Choctaw Academy in name of Dustin Clark.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 23, 2023, at Heritage Church of God in Gilbertown, AL, with Reverend John Sweeney and Reverend Ricky Dement officiating. Visitation will be held Tuesday, August 22, 2023, from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Heritage Church of God. Interment will be in the Providence Cemetery in Butler, AL.
Billy was born on January 15, 1938 at his parents' home in Choctaw County to Bill and Stella Boykin. He grew up in Butler, the oldest son of Bill and Stella's nine children. His life was hard as his family faced years of scarcity after the Great Depression and into the years of World War II. Jobs were hard to find and his parents struggled to provide for he and his siblings. Billy and his brothers would hunt deer, turkey, rabbits, and squirrels trying never to waste a bullet knowing that a "miss" would mean no meat for the family. The great "need" of his family during those years drove Billy to find ways to always have enough for the necessities of life. He picked cotton with his uncles and worked in the school cafeteria to help provide food for he and his siblings. He was embarrassed for his friends to see him work in the cafeteria, but the embarrassment never surpassed his siblings' need. After high school he joined the Marine Corp; and the need to provide for the family still drove him. He sent money home to his parents on a regular basis, and his siblings recall a special Christmas and how he showed up with wonderful presents. He was excited to give each one of his four brothers their first gun, and he gave each of his four sisters a cashmere sweater with a matching silk scarf. He was so proud to be able to give them these gifts, and his siblings never forgot his act of love.
When Billy returned home from his military service, he was sitting at a red light in Butler when his future wife, Peggy, walked across the street in front of his car. He told his children many times over the years about exactly what she was wearing and how beautiful she was. He began his pursuit of Peggy that day, and he has spent the last sixty-two years of his life as her husband. One of the last things I heard him say was, "Look at her! Ain't she the prettiest woman you ever saw!" His love for her has driven him to be a better man. It took him – as he would say – a LONG time to realize how rare a woman like her was. He'd repeat over and over that she was such a LADY that she could walk across a plowed field in high heels and never miss a step. Their commitment to each other and their great love for each other is a testimony to what God can do if you will let Him be first in your marriage.
Those who knew Billy had no doubt that his family has always been his top priority. When Peggy delivered his first born, Mona, Billy had to adjust to his pace of work. Little two-year-old Mona insisted on being with him saying, "Daddy, I wanna hold your hand." Billy was seen on numerous occasions bent over holding her hand while working with just one hand. When his second child, Nina, was born, he was so disappointed that she wasn't a boy that he left the hospital and went to the cemetery to walk around and pout. He decided though that keeping her wouldn't be so bad when he came back and laid his head on the bed next to Peggy and Nina – only to awaken and find her tiny hand holding his finger. His heart almost exploded when his first son, Billy Jr., was born. His pride swelled even more when Peggy gave birth to a second son, Andre, just a couple of years later. He boasted – even in his last days – that Billy Jr. was his right arm and Andre was his left arm. His pride in both his sons was enormous. He trusted them and counted on them to always be there. When his baby girl, Dawn, was born, Billy had mellowed a little, and everyone could see that he was smitten. She got away with much more – well EVERYTHING? She even dug around in his dinner plate with her dirty fingers, and he wouldn't even let Peggy drink after him! When he took his last breath and opened his eyes, she was probably the first thing he saw because you all know Dawn – she probably knocked his parents down to get in the front of the line!
Our family has struggled with loss over the past three weeks, and these hard days have taught us the value of the lessons that Daddy tried so hard to instill in us. Life Lesson #1: Love God and do all you can to do what the Bible says. Life Lesson #2: This world will not give you anything. Life can be hard and tough times will come. Be a Marine – overcome, adapt, adjust. Life Lesson #3: Work hard. "A man should be buried with his palms facing up so that everyone can see the calluses and know how hard he worked" … "and remember whatever you own owns you". Life Lesson #4: Love your family well – blood is everything. The same blood that flows in your veins flows in theirs.
Daddy was a good man – flawed like all men – but a good man. Through his sickness, we have all known that this day was coming, and we have had time to reflect on not just Billy the husband, father, grandfather, or great grandfather, but Billy as a man…a man who through the years chose to sacrifice his wants and needs for his family's wants and needs. When given a meal ticket for hot food in the mill cafeteria during unexpected overtime hours, he chose to eat cans of potted meat and use his meal ticket to bring his family a gallon of ice cream. Instead of sleeping, he chose to stay up all night long working on the engine in his car so that he could get to work and make a paycheck for his family. Billy's life was so much more about sacrifice and provision than it was about attention or fame. Yes, he loved nothing better than the hand claps he received from an audience when he played his guitar and sang, but he always put the needs of his family first. It took him a few years to get past his "younger self's desire for the spotlight, but I recall him telling us about a day that his whole perspective changed. He'd given so much of his young life up to do for others that he wanted to do something for himself. The guitar provided that something. He'd spent a long time working during the week and playing the guitar on weekends. One night, he came in late from playing in the band to find my mother on a ladder painting the kitchen. In that moment, he realized that she had painted the whole house over a long period of time all while tending to the needs of his small children. It was that night that he realized that his wants was not nearly as important as her needs. He'd lost sight of what mattered. That night, he put his guitar in the closet and didn't pick it up for many years…not until most of us had lives of our own. He did pick it up and begin to play again – but this time – mama came along. You never saw him without her. You never saw him on stage without her in the audience cheering him on…his biggest fan! Daddy's life – like everyone else's – gives us all a chance to learn about what is truly important and what matters most.
We will miss you, Daddy. Your songs, your laughter, your stories about life…but we know that heaven is full of love and laughter today. We know that there are two sets of baby blue eyes – one a father's and one a daughter's – that are shining brightly! And we can just hear Dawn bubbling over with joy as she shows you all around your new home!
He is survived by his wife, Peggy D. Gibson-Boykin of Lisman, AL; sons, Billy James Boykin, Jr. (Kaye) of Butler, AL, and Andre Craig Boykin of Richton, MS; daughters, Mona B Clayton (Lewis) of Lauderdale, MS, Nina B. Butler (Gregg) of Lisman, AL; son-in-law, Keith Clark of Gilbertown, AL; brothers, Brad Boykin (Martha) of Meridian, MS, and Bruce Boykin (Diane) of Lisman, AL; sisters, Sybil Boykin of Lisman, AL, Ruth Lawson of Monroe, LA, Marie Hoidahl of Meridian, MS, and Maryl Boykin of Thomasville, AL; eighteen grandchildren, and twenty seven great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Dawn B. Clark; father, William A Boykin; and mother, Stella Mae Trull-Boykin.
Serving as pallbearers are Kristopher Lewis, Austin Butler, Billy J. Boykin, III, Jacob Boykin, Caleb Logan, Andre Craig Boykin, II, Gunner Boykin, Dillan Clark, Dawson Clark, and Dustin Clark. Honorary pallbearers are Lewis Clayton, Gregg Butler, Keith Clark, Bruce Boykin, Brad Boykin, Donnie Tucker, George Johnson, Tyler Carroll, Austin Watkins, Donna Hill, Bobby J. Boykin, and the staff of Traditions Hospice.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to South Choctaw Academy in name of Dustin Clark.
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