Barksdale Thomas Boyd, age 87, beloved wife of Thomas Boyd, III, passed away peacefully with family present at their home in Tiger, Georgia, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Born in Washington, GA, Barksdale was an outstanding high school athlete and leader. She was elected class president in her junior and senior years and played on the basketball and tennis teams, twice making it to the Georgia State high school singles tennis finals. She was inducted into the Washington-Wilkes Sports Hall of Fame in 1989.
Mrs. Boyd attended the University of Georgia and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. She was a member and President of the UGA Chapter of Delta Delta Delta sorority. After marrying Thomas Boyd, III, they moved to Heilbronn, Germany, with the United States Army. Upon returning to the United States, Barksdale created wonderful homes for their growing family in Augusta, GA, then Columbus, GA, and Tiger, GA.
Actively involved in her communities, she was a member of the Columbus Junior League, the Historic Columbus Foundation, chairman of the Salisbury Fair for the HCF, an officer in multiple Parent Teacher Associations and a member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors. She also sang in the choir of First Baptist Church, Columbus, GA.
Barksdale was a seeker of knowledge and new experiences throughout her life. She was a member of The Junto Study Club in Columbus, GA, P.E.O in Tiger, GA, and various book and bridge groups. After her children left for college, she studied to become a real estate agent and worked for Kennon, Parker, Duncan and Key. She enjoyed traveling to new and faraway places, driving her convertible Mini Cooper around the mountain curves of Rabun County, GA, and learning about new technology and current trends from her eight much-adored grandchildren.
Barksdale Thomas Boyd is survived by her husband of sixty-four years, Thomas Boyd III, her children Genie Boyd Hughes (Justin), Lyn Boyd-Judson (David), Thomas David Boyd (Karen) and Molly Walden Boyd (Chris Ferrell) and grandchildren Kendall Boyd Hitt (Andrew), Jackson Boyd Ferrell, Thomas Patterson Boyd, Patrick Hutton Ferrell, William Barksdale Boyd, Mary Walden Ferrell, Benjamin Boyd Judson, and Georgia Barksdale Judson. She is preceded in death by her parents, Frank Walden Thomas and Gene Barksdale Thomas, her brother, Frank Walden Thomas, Jr., and her sister, Gene Thomas Price.
A Celebration of Life Funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church, Porter Chapel, 212 12th Street Columbus, GA 31901 on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 at 11:00am. Family will visit with friends an hour prior. A private burial will follow at the family plot in Washington, GA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to First Baptist Church, Columbus, Georgia.
