Joanna H Boyd

In 1941, Joanna contracted polio, leaving her right leg and left arm crippled. She never let this disability define her and used her story to connect with the struggles of others. In all her roles in life as a wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and friend, Joanna shared her love for Jesus Christ and how she leaned on her faith, especially through hard times.

Joanna’s passion for language arts began with her excelling in speech and drama classes at Woodlawn High School. Upon graduating from Samford University, she began her lifelong love for teaching that extended for more than 30 years. Twenty-five of those years were at Advent Episcopal School, where she taught fifth through eighth grade language arts and directed multiple, extra-curricular speech and theater programs. She coached students how to research, write and deliver arguments for speech competitions across the state.

Joanna was a faithful lifelong member of The Church at Liberty Park Church (formerly Woodlawn Baptist Church). She served in multiple roles as a Sunday School teacher, women’s ministry leader and a prayer team member.

For the last 35 years, she invested in multiple friends and neighbors in her home at Park Tower Condominiums. She began a weekly meeting of women known as the “Fellowship Group,” where she developed deep bonds with them around their faith.

She is survived by her two children, Al (Myrna) Boyd and Bonnie Moore; grandchildren, Charles Boyd, Leah Ann Boyd, Anna Grace (Justin) Breedlove and Amy Moore; great-grandson, Jacob Breedlove; sister, Roberta Roby; and niece Carol Hobbs Matherson, nephews Trey (Kim) Roby, Roger (Mary) Roby. She is preceded in death by her husband of nearly 50 years, Bill Boyd; her son-in-law, Paul Moore; Parents Frank and Myrtie Holtam; her sister, Rose Hobbs; and her brother-in-law, Bill Roby.

Joanna Boyd’s celebration of life will be on Tuesday, March 18 at The Church at Liberty Park. Visitation will be from 9:30-11 a.m., and the service will occur at 11 a.m. A private burial will follow the service.

Donations may be given in memory of Joanna to e3 Partners Ministry at [email protected]; Alabama Baptist Children’s Homes at [email protected]; or The Church at Liberty Park, Mission fund.