Jack Boyd

BOYD, Jack Ireland, PhD, died Monday, November 23, 2009 after several years of declining health. He was born on November 12, 1923 in Columbia, Missouri to the late Alaga Harrison and Myrtle (Patsy) Howard Ireland Boyd. After receiving his BA in Social Sciences at Monticello A&M, now University of Arkansas at Monticello, he served as a meteorologist with the U.S. Army Air Corps in Greenland. He then furthered his education by receiving an MA in International Relations at the University of Chicago. This was followed as a Rotary International Scholar at the University of Geneva in Switzerland. He then began a career as an international trade and development economist with the International Cooperative Administrations (ICA), now known as AID, in Washington, Jordan, Vietnam and Pakistan. In this capacity, he was responsible for developing and recommending plans for the use of foreign aid funds as well as following up on the progress of the programs. Retiring from the agency after 25 years gave him the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in education. He was accepted by the University of Alabama as a doctoral candidate and was awarded a PhD in Education Administration in 1973. He accepted a position with the Chesterfield County School System as a Teacher and Student Work Coordinator in 1974. This fulfilled a longtime goal of his to help young people in achieving their ambitions. After his retirement he often commented on what a rewarding experience this had been for him. Jack was a recipient of numerous awards and honors, one being inclusion in the 34th edition of Marquis Who's Who in America. Mr. Boyd is survived by his wife of 58 years, Annelle Marie Butler; son, Harrison Andrew Boyd and his wife, Jackye Lester of Chester; daughter, Harriet Annelle and her husband, John Patrick Harty of Lorton, Virginia; grandsons, Matthew Ireland and Joseph Andrew Harty of Lorton; brother, Robert Moore Boyd and his wife, Faye Milne, of Avondale Estates, Georgia; sister, Elizabeth (Betty) A. Conatser and her husband, Robert, of Oakwood, Georgia; nieces, Lynn Boyd Vann and her husband, Harry, and Yvonne Conatser Thomas and her husband, Tony; nephews, Alan Boyd and his wife, Andrea, and Grayden and Robert Conatser, Johnnie E. Butler and his wife, Johnnie L. Crowe, of Port Orange, Florida; and sisters, Clarice B. Schmidt of San Diego, California and Reba Butler Comer Ward of Foley, Alabama, along with their children. Each was very dear to him. Jack leaves behind a legacy of love, joy and inspiration. He never met a stranger and considered everyone a friend. Funeral and interment will be private. A memorial service celebrating Jack's life will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers or memorial gifts, Jack wishes you to honor his memory by continuing to give of yourself to others as he did throughout his life. The family is being served by the Chesterfield Chapel of J.T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home & Cremation Service. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com.



This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.