Ardella Boykin

Ardella Boykin was born May 1, 1931 to Ivory and Beulah Wilson in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She had four siblings; Vera Bouyer, Earl Wilson, Andrew Wilson, and Mae Wiley. Ardella was raised in a Christian home as a Seventh Day Adventist and accepted Christ at an early age.

She married Calvin Love and from this union four children were born; Michael, Lily, Curtis and Calvin Jr., who died at birth. Calvin and Ardella moved their family from Muskogee to Omaha in 1962 and they joined the Sharon Seventh Day Adventist Church. She was very active in church giving Bible Studies and winning souls for the Lord, serving as Literature Evangelist, Deaconess, MV Leader and Vacation Bible School Teacher.

In her work in Literature Evangelism she met Randolph Boykins, widowed; gave him Bible Studies and he accepted the Gospel Truth and was baptized. They later married in 1975 and she joined him in St. Louis, Missouri. Ardella and Randolph became Certified Literature Evangelists an became a team spreading the Gospel. They received numerous recognitions for Outstanding Service in Literature Evangelism. In 1992, Ardella and Randolph moved to Columbia, Missouri and joined the Columbia Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Ardella loved being a housewife, mother and grandmother. She also loved cooking and trying out vegetarian recipes. She was a caregiver by nature and with the help of Randolph they raised several of their grandchildren. Ardella believed in Seventh Day Adventist Education and along with Randolph, sacrificed so their granddaughters Ardella and Shayla could receive this education. The Lord called Randolph to rest in 2003.

Ardella loved the Word of God and the Seventh Day Adventist Truth. This was evident throughout her life as she shared the Word of God and told others about this Truth and the soon coming of Jesus Christ. She also loved Sabbath School and spent hours each week studying the Sabbath School lessons.

As Ardella grew older she continued to hand out literature wherever she went and would turn hearts to a soon coming Savior up until the time her health failed her. On February 5th she had brain surgery to remove a tumor and while in the Intensive Care Unit barely able to talk, she was still witnessing and telling everyone she could about Jesus and His soon coming. The tumor was terminal Brain Cancer, the worse of its kind, and Ardella was given only days to live. But she continued to fight the good fight of Faith and Praise Be to God she lived over 4 months. The Lord

called Ardella to rest on June 15th.

Ardella Boykin is preceded in death by her parents and siblings, and leaves to cherish her memories, sons: Michael and Curtis (Sheila) Love; daughter Lily (Isaac) Smith; grandchildren: Tara Adams, Michael Love Jr., Corlisa (Kahlid) Gilliam, Earl Love, Curtis Young, Joseph Love, Kevin Riley Jr., Ardella Riley and Shayla Riley; 20 great grandchildren; 16 great-great grandchildren; step children: Mary Frances Bracy, Sharon Jacobs, Frankie Boykin, Randolph Boykin Jr.; nieces and nephews: Geneva Douglas, Angela Berry, Connie Bouyer, Cynthia Wiley, Cheryl Wiley, John Wiley Jr. and Karen Wiley; other family members and friends.