Herman C. Boyd Jr.

NORTHPORT Herman C. Boyd, Jr., age 76, a lifelong resident of Northport, went to be with his Lord on December 15, 2010, at DCH Regional Medical Center.

Herman's immediate family and active pallbearers will gather from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 18, 2010, at Sunset Funeral Home on Watermelon Road in Northport for a private service with Rev. John Vaughn and Rev. Orland Johnson officiating. Kenny Kizzire will provide the music. Burial in Sunset Memorial Park will follow the family service with Rev. Scott Moore officiating.

A memorial service is scheduled at 2:30 p.m., Saturday. December 18, 2010, at the First Wesleyan Church, 1501 McFarland Blvd. North, Tuscaloosa with Rev. Joel Gorvette and Dr. Hayse Boyd, Herman's brother, officiating. Donnie Dockery, Ronnie Lett, and Missy Stevens will provide the music. Friends will be received in the fellowship hall of the church following the memorial service. Sunset Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, is in charge of arrangements.

Herman was preceded in death by his parents, Herman C. Boyd, Sr. and Elsie Dyer Boyd, and his beloved son, Darran E. Boyd (Michele).

Survivors include his beloved wife of 54 years, Barbara Palmer Boyd; son, David H. Boyd (Marie); a very special grandson, Heath; brother, Hayse (Peggy); and many other relatives.

Herman was born May 31, 1934, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. His mother died 24 days later. His father later remarried, and Herman was reared and loved by a wonderful stepmother, the late Lucille Farquhar Boyd. Herman was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle.

Herman was known throughout Tuscaloosa County as a result of his 36 year career as an educator, mentor, and administrator with the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education. His career included serving as teacher and coach at Gorgas High School from 1956 to 1957; teacher and coach at Brookwood High School from 1957 to 1958; teacher and coach at Northside High School from 1959 to 1960; teacher and coach at Northport Junior High School from 1960 to 1969; principal at Collins-Riverside Jr. High School from 1970 to 1987; and Director of New Construction, Maintenance and Custodial Services for the Tuscaloosa County School System from 1987 to 1992. Herman was a tireless worker who loved his students, faculty, and all school personnel with whom he worked. Their welfare always came first.

In retirement, he loved spending time on his farm, boating on Lake Tuscaloosa, hunting, traveling with his Airstream buddies, gabbing on the telephone, and working for the church.

Herman's primary love was his Lord, Jesus Christ. He loved his fellow church members. He and Barbara were charter members of Saint Mark United Methodist Church and served there 12 years. Following their move to the lake, they were members of Macedonia United Methodist Church for 12 years; for the past 26 years, they have been members of the First Wesleyan Church of Tuscaloosa. There, he served in many capacities, including board member, trustee, and Chairman of the Building Committee for the current sanctuary.

Active pallbearers will be Heath Boyd, Sonny Aaron, Mike Griffin, Billy Lake, Hilary Shirley, Charles Gann, Jimmy Meggs, Bobby Cockrell, Tommy Jones, Johnny Rushing, and Larry Miles.

Honorary pallbearers are Dr. Neil Hyche; members of the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education; teachers, coaches, and personnel of the Tuscaloosa County School System; Dr. Larry Skelton; Dr. Cornelius Sullivan; Dr. Sakina Kamal; nurses and related personnel of DCH, especially the 1st Floor Cardiac Unit; Brian Kindred; former students Dr. Terry Carlson, Dr. Joe Wallace, Robbie Davis, and Duane Robertson; former pastors Rev. Dick Emery and Paul Peeples; Joe Armstrong; Tom Hunter; Bobby Walker; Jean Mapp; Mike Wilson; Jimmy Lunceford; Billy Palmer; Robert Palmer; Arnold Mills; Doug Hollyhand; Mike Chambers; Bonnie and Brian Wiggington; Curtis Hall; Roger Taylor; Chuck Glover; Marlin Dunn; Billy Willis; Ross and Billy McKnight; members of First Wesleyan Church, Macedonia United Methodist Church, and Saint Mark United Methodist Church; all Airstream buddies; and his hunting buddies.

Memorials may be made to the First Wesleyan Church Building Fund or to the DCH Cancer Center. May God bless you all.

Condolences may be offered at www.sunsetbrown-funeral.com.