Reverand Harold Lee Boyd was born on September 20th, 1941, to Marie P. Boyd and Fernando F. Rocha at St. Mary’s Hospital in Galesburg, Illinois.
He attended Cooke Elementary School, Churchill Jr. High and Galesburg Senior High School in Galesburg, Illinois. Graduating with the class of 1959. He worked a couple of years or so at various jobs before attending Western Illinois University in Macomb, Illinois. He graduated WIU in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology and Health. He entered the United States Army in 1965 serving on active duty from 1965 to 1972. He served two tours in Vietnam with the first tour from 1967-1968 and a second tour in 1970 which was cut short due to an injury he sustained during the war. He left Active Duty in April 1972 and completed 11 ½ years as a Reservist attaining the Rank of Major. He received the Purple Heart, the Silver Star, and a number of other medals and citations during his military career.
He was employed by McDonough District Hospital in Macomb, Illinois as an Emergency Medical Technician from 1972 – 1985 which afterwards he was employed by the United States Postal Service as a Letter Carrier. He retired from the USPS on January 1st, 2007 with 35 federal years of service.
Reverand Boyd was active in the Israel of Gods Church W.H.A. Prior to joining the Israel of Gods Church W.H.A. he belonged to Second Baptist Church where he served as Secretary of Sunday School, and a Junior Usher. In the Israel of Gods Church W.H.A. where he began as an Ordained Deacon, an Elder and appointed as the Pastor of the Israel of Gods Church W.H.A. Galesburg, Illinois by Bishop Joseph Thomas in August of 1991. Reverand Boyd served as the President of the National General Educational Workshop and was the Coordinator for the Historical Society.
Reverand Boyd was very active in the community of Macomb where he resided for over 39 years by serving on several boards to include: The American Red Cross, Macomb Sr. High School Bomber Booster Club, and the Lincoln Elementary School Parent/Teacher Association. He was also a volunteer with the American Red Cross Blood Center, the Mississippi Valley Blood Center as well as being a regular blood donor.
He leaves to cherish in his memory his wife of 57 years Ella Marie Taylor Boyd. They were married April 8th, 1967, in Galesburg, Illinois by the Reverand Mose Hicks at the Israel of Gods Church W.H.A. Two daughters Dietra A. Boyd Woods of Killeen, Texas, Denise L. Boyd of Indianapolis, Indiana, and one son DeAndrae L. Boyd of Layton, Utah. Four grandchildren, Samuel Tyrus Woods, Dante T. Woods, Diamond A. Woods, and Jai Marie Boyd. One Brother Kenneth L. (Diana) Boyd of Rockwall, Texas, and two sisters-in-law Rebecca Boyd of Galesburg, Illinois and Paula Effie Boyd of Davenport, Iowa. A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his Grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George McNeair; his Mother, Marie P. McNeair Boyd; his Father, Fernando Rocha; his Dad, William Boyd Sr., three Brothers, Wayne C. Boyd, Lawrence E. Boyd, and William Boyd Jr.; and two sisters, Laura Marie T. Boyd Morrison, and Shirley A. Boyd, aka, Kenndra T. Marshall.
Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, December 6, 2024, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral and Cremation Services of Galesburg. Additional visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Israel of Gods Church W.H.A., followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial with Military Honors will be in East Linwood Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Rev. Boyd’s name may be made to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. Online condolences and memories may be shared on the funeral home’s website at www.h-p-w.com.
