Horace Clarence Boyer

Alice/Gloria & The Boyer Siblings:
Horace and I met in 1956 at Bethune-Cookman College (now University). Through the years, we maintained a friendship as well as strong fraternal ties (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.). When Horace visited in the Metro Washington DC area, it was always with great fun/joy that we got together with another Floridian, William J. Neal, also a musician. I could sit and listen for hours as those musicians discussed the various aspects of music. Of course...

We have lost at truly great man: artist, educator, inspirational entity. Thank God for letting him be with us (especially those of us in music) for the time we were privileged to know him. I saw a recent replay of the special on Mahalia Jackson. It was surreal, but heart warming to see and learn from him again. Earth's lost is Heaven's gain, of course.

Our heartfelt sympathy is with Gloria and their family.

Working with, singing for, and being counted as friends of Horace have been a great honor and privilege in our lives. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to Mrs. Boyer. It is a great loss for this world. However, I am sure that the great celestial choir just got kicked up a notch or two.

Highest hallelujahs to Almighty God for this wonderful life! It was my priviledge to meet and work with DR. Boyer through his mentee, Rev. Beverly Tasy in Michigan. The world has lost a treasure....but remember earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.

My thoughts and prayers go out to you at this time of your loss. Dr. Boyer was someone very special to me as a teacher and a friend. I will never forget the sophistication, and humor with which he lead his classes, and commanded the stage. Though we did not speak often after I left the area he was never far from my thoughts. I will always be grateful that he was a part of my life.

Dearest Gloria, words simply can't express our love for you and Horace and the gift that you all have been to us through friendship and service to our Lord Jesus Christ. The afternoon we spent in the Chambers of the Supreme Court where Horace taught 200 members of the Hill to sing "Soon and very soon," will never leave our memory. While he wept upon entering the Chamber where freedom came alive, I know he weeps tears of joy today in the presence of Jesus where he is free from all suffering....

No one could analyze a gospel song--or any song like Dr. Boyer. Seeing him at a chalkboard, and feeling his enthusiasm was amazing. His love for the gospel genre was definitely unmistakable, and he will be missed. My prayers are with the family during this time of transition.

Dr. "B" will be greatly missed! Being a part of the Voices of New Africa House Workshop Choir in the last 70's heightened my college experience while attending Smith College. Dr. B made it a "family" atmosphere and to this day the friendships have been maintained to this day. He even came to my wedding in 1990 to coordinate the music! Thank God for the reunion concert in 2008 so that he could see how much we really loved him. Mrs. B, your will always continue to be "family" to us. We love you...

I am deeply saddened to hear of the passing of an influential scholar, Dr. Horace Boyer. I had the wonderful pleasure of meeting and chauffeuring Dr. Boyer while attending graduate school at a musical workshop held at the University of Dayton and later in the documentary of “The Spirituals” by The American Spiritual Ensemble.