Boyd Brister Hedleston Jr.

HEDLESTON, Boyd Brister, Jr., 72, of Bonneau Beach, S.C., passed on into eternity Friday, September 15, 2021 at Trident Medical Center in North Charleston, S.C. He succumbed to complications of a gallstone, for want of a pebble the war was lost.

His memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon, November 6, 2021 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 9505 Gayton Road, Richmond, Va. 23229. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 9505 Gayton Road, Richmond, Va 23229.

Boyd was born in Grenada, Mississippi, but knew St. Louis as his home town, graduating from Parkway North High School in the Class of 1968. He was an active debater and named 1st Speaker of the Greater St. Louis Debate League in 1967. He loved his wife, Sally Hedleston. They were married for 36 years when she passed in 2016. Together they loved traveling the world and English country line dancing. He also loved serving the Lord through his faith. He hosted refugees and exchange students. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. For 27 years, Mr. Hedleston was a small business owner and a sales distributor for Baby Tenda safety equipment. He was also a science teacher for Chesterfield County and Hanover County, Va. He loved to mentor and coach, giving sound advice and wisdom. He taught English as a second language at Commonwealth Catholic Charities. Boyd was full of endless curiosity and he was constantly learning. He was an avid reader and he studied at Wesleyan University, Mary Baldwin College, VCU and he was a graduate of Regents College with a Bachelor of Science in biology. He loved fly fishing, football and scuba diving and he really loved finishing those with a cheeseburger and a beer. He had a habit of stroking his beard, especially when watching movies, driving the car or listening to lectures.

Mr. Hedleston is survived by his son, David Charles Hedleston of Bonneau Beach, S.C.; stepchildren, Rebecca Gaines, Karen Ann Taylor, Martin R. Mitchell III, Catherine Ann Mitchell; son-in-law, Roscoe P. Brice; grandchildren, Richard Stephens, Christopher Stephens, Elizabeth Dove, Garhett Mitchell, Matt Mitchell; and seven great-grandchildren.