Evelyn B. Boyd

Mrs. Evelyn Boyd, age 96, passed away on Monday, June 23, 2025. She was greatly loved and will be missed by her family who called her E, and by her church family and many friends. Evelyn was born on March 3, 1929 in Barrow County and raised in Bethlehem, Campton, and Bonaire GA. She was the daughter of the late Dessus and Launa Doster Barber. Evelyn was also preceded in death by her loving husband of more than 75 years, J.P. Boyd, who passed away January 16, 2025, by her great-granddaughter, Arden, and by her closest friends Helen House, Betty Smith Kelley, and Jane Smith Odum.

Evelyn was a 1945 graduate of Winder High School. After graduation she began work in her Aunt Floy’s fabric business in Atlanta where she developed the lifelong love of shopping downtown at least two Saturdays per quarter from Rich’s to Davison’s and all shops in between. After a couple of years she moved back home. Evelyn was employed for 50 years with Empire Manufacturing Company, Winder as the Bookkeeper, and served as their Corporate Secretary until she retired in 1997. Evelyn was a talented alto singer and even got to sing and meet Minnie Pearl at Walker Park School near Monroe. Their father would drive Evelyn and Frances to an Athens radio station on weekends where they would sing Christian songs on a local radio show.

During her youth at Bethlehem Methodist Church she was active in Choir, Sunday School, and Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF). She joined the Church in 1943 and became a dedicated and active member of Bethlehem First United Methodist Church for the next 80 years. Over the years, Evelyn directed a children’s choir, youth choir, and the adult Chancel Choir from 1994-1998. She taught the junior Sunday School class for several years, was a member of the United Methodist Women (formerly known as WSCS), co-taught in the Pre-School, and was an active member of the STARS senior group having monthly fellowship and lunches or day trips, as well as staging shows and skits where Evelyn often portrayed Minnie Pearl. Evelyn and JP served as Treasurers for Bethlehem First United Methodist Church for 35 years (1971-2006) with absolute trustworthiness and dependability. Evelyn loved her family and taught her children and grands to love Jesus and to develop a strong commitment to learning and working to lift higher each generation. She kept up with all birthdays and other activities for family members long before social media. She enjoyed gifting music boxes and annual ornaments to the grands at Christmas. Evelyn was known for her baking skills at family and church gatherings especially pound cakes, layer cakes, pies and biscuits. She was still baking each member’s favorite into her nineties. Evelyn loved to travel but her “internal rubber band” would pull her back to Bethlehem in about 10 days at most. She loved numerous mountain and beach trips in Georgia and the south. She has travelled to Washington, D.C., Texas, New York City, Yellowstone and The Grand Tetons national parks, Hawaii, Canada, and Mexico.

Evelyn is survived by her son, Phil Boyd (Laurilyn) and her daughter, Vickie Washington (Bob); her six grandchildren: Jillian Armistead (Doug), Rebekah Simmons (Brian), Allison Van Kirk (Ryan), Bo Washington, Jon Philip Boyd (Ursula), and Mary Elizabeth Boylan (Bob); her 19 great-grandchildren: Presley, Joshua, Madeline, Avery, Kane, Malachi, Koa, Brynn, Conner, Judd, Eden, Genevieve, Abel, Roxy, Corban, Harley, Cort, Veda, and Jack; her sister Frances Wood (Henry); and a host of nieces, nephews, and other extended family.

The Celebration of Life Service for Evelyn Boyd will be held at Bethlehem First United Methodist Church, 709 Christmas Ave, Bethlehem, GA on Saturday, June 28, 2025. The visitation will be held in the Narthex from 12:30 pm until 2:00 pm. The service will follow in the sanctuary at 2:00 pm. The graveside will be held at the Bethlehem Methodist Cemetery 1079 Bethlehem Church Rd, Bethlehem, GA at 3:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial donations to Bethlehem Church Cemetery Fund at Bethlehem First United Methodist Church, 709 Christmas Ave Bethlehem, GA 30620.