Vernal Lee Boyd

Mr. Vernal Lee Boyd, age 78, of Council, Virginia passed away Monday (September 22, 2025) in a Richlands, Virginia hospital. Born January 2, 1947 in Richlands, Virginia, he was a son of the late George Ellis "Kenneth" and Hattie Victoria Tiller Boyd. A lifelong resident of Council, he was a graduate of Council High School and was a veteran of the United States Army. He had formerly been employed as a coal miner, school bus driver, and was owner and operator of Boyd's Auto Repair for over fifty years. He was a member of Duty Church of God for fifty-seven years and was currently serving as Associate Pastor. He enjoyed dirt track racing, building wreckers, restoring cars, and gardening, always sharing his cabbage with anyone that stopped by. A hard-working and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, his greatest joys came from spending time with his family, whom he loved dearly.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four siblings, Shirley Matney, Norma "Sis" Potter, E.G. Boyd, and Beverly Boyd.

Survivors include his wife of fifty-six years, Thelma Boyd; two children, Verna Theola Barton and husband, Dean, and Vernal Lee Boyd, II and wife, Bethany; grandchildren, Maddox Berklee Barton, Vernal Lee "Trace" Boyd, III, and Kennedy Anabel Boyd; siblings, Vicky Boyd and Mike Boyd; special brother-in-law, Farley Combs; nieces and nephews, Nawana Thomas, Hope Proffitt, Heather Boyd, Stevie Dawson, Hannah Hendricks, Terry Matney, and Shawn Matney.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Clinch Valley Outpatient Infusion Center, especially Logan and Melissa for the loving care they provided.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 AM Thursday in the Honaker Funeral Home Chapel, Honaker, Virginia with Rev. Edward Tiller and Bro. Dean Barton officiating. Interment will follow in the Presley Cemetery at Council, Virginia.

Military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 9864 of Lebanon, Virginia.

Pallbearers will be Tracy Tiller, Kevin Lowe, Ronald Tiller, Don Deel, Landon Johnson, and Peanut Gilbert.

Honorary pallbearers will be Farley Combs, Charlie Sullivan, Fred Sullivan, Dewey Sullivan, Terry Matney, Shawn Matney, and Roger Daniels.

The family will receive friends after 6 PM Wednesday at Honaker Funeral Home.