Joy L. (Willis) Boydston

Joy Lee Willis Boydston, 80, of the Rowell community near Rison, died Saturday, May 18, 2019.  Mrs. Boydston was born December 3, 1938 in Randall, Arkansas.  She was a daughter of the late James Cullen Willis and Vera Blake Willis.  Mrs. Bodyston attended the University of Conway where she received her BSE and the University of Fayetteville where she received her Master of Education and Administration.  She taught sixth grade for a combined nine years in Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Dayton, Ohio.  Mrs. Boydston continued to teach for several more years in Woodlawn, Arkansas before accepting an elementary principal position, which she held for twenty years.  She was a member of AEA, AESP, Arkansas Retired Teachers Association and NESP.  Mrs. Boydston was a faithful member of Center Missionary Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School, Discovery program for children, bible school and served on the education committee.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward C. Boydston Sr.

Survivors include her daughter, Sherrie Lynn Boydston Lane; son, Edward Carroll Boydston Jr. and his wife, Shirley; grandchildren, Whitney Nicole Robinson, Spencer Drake Robinson; four sisters, Ernestine Taunton, Diane Ashcraft, Bobby Jane Wyatt, Gloria Bass and two brothers, Joe Willis and James Carroll Willis.

A visitation will be from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 22, 2019 at Buie Funeral Home in Rison.  Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 23, 2019 at Center Missionary Baptist Church in Rowell with Brother Doney Blackerby officiating.  Interment will follow at Rowell Cemetery.  Funeral arrangements are by Buie Funeral Home in Rison.