Mr. Eddie Boykin, Jr.

Eddie Boykin, Jr. was born on October 7, 1945 in Columbia, South Carolina to the late Eddie, Sr. and Trophine Joyner Boykin. He departed this earthly journey on October 31, 2019.

Eddie was educated in the public schools of Richland County. He was a graduate of the Residential & Commercial Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Program at Midlands Technical College and became a licensed refrigeration technician.

At an early age, Eddie joined Wesley United Methodist Church in Columbia, South Carolina where he served faithfully until his health failed. He was an excellent Bible scholar, demonstrating extensive knowledge related to the scripture.

Eddie served as a Marine in the Vietnam War with the title of Rifleman.  He received several awards including National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and Good Conduct Medal & Combat Action Ribbon. He was later employed by Exxon Pipeline as an air conditioning and refrigeration technician until he became disabled.

Eddie dedicated his life to his family, loved ones, and community. He was actively involved in finding permanent homes for foster children in Raleigh, Durham and surrounding areas of North Carolina. He was always thrilled to see a foster child placed in an appropriate permanent home. Eddie kept calm and knew how to diffuse stressful situations.  He was well loved and called “Pappa” by his four teenage granddaughters. He enjoyed working with his hands and made beautiful bookcases and mantelpieces. He was able to repair most malfunctioning items, from commercial freezers to microwaves ovens.  He was an excellent fisherman and swimmer when he was in good health. Eddie enjoyed reading. He read 1-2 novels per week. He has seen every old classic cowboy movie ever filmed. Eddie also enjoyed taking pictures of his family and was quite fond of his dog, Zowie. To know Eddie was to love him.

Eddie was preceded in death by his parents, Eddie, Sr. and Trophine Boykin; two brothers, Bennie and Frankie Boykin; and one sister, Queen Esther Gilmore.

Eddie leaves to cherish his precious memory his beloved wife of forty-eight years, Mary Jones Boykin; one daughter, Ginger Renee Boykin Spencer of Blythewood, SC; one son, Darrell Timothy Boykin of Columbia, SC; four granddaughters, Amber Renee Spencer, Ashley Rebecca Spencer, Arica Robin Spencer, and Adrienne Rose Spencer all of Blythewood, SC; one brother, Phillip (Francena) Boykin; two sisters, Joann Etheridge and Edna Mae Wilson of Columbia, SC;   one brother-in-law, Greg (Mary) Miller of Columbia, SC; six sisters-in-law, Barbara Walker of Austin, TX, Wyonia J. Burke of Branchville, SC, Sallie Bell (Ernest) Peterson of Sumter, SC, Rachel (Walter) Green, Princess (Kenneth) Wise, and Veronica (Jake) Johnson of Columbia, SC; and a host of loving relatives and friends. 

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