James William Boyd

James William Boyd, 95, was born to Bowling Briggs and Katherine Louise Boyd of Donelson, Tennessee on April 15, 1930 and died on August 25, 2025 in McMinnville, Tennessee.

James Boyd grew up in Donelson, Tennessee and attended David Lipscomb College and Vanderbilt University earning a degree in Business. He later attended Indiana University, Harding Graduate School of Biblical Studies, and Alabama Christian School of Religion where he received a Master’s degree in Biblical Studies.

James Boyd began providing for himself by selling Insurance for American United Life and Causality, and by working as a sales manager at Williams Printing Company in Nashville, Tennessee. He and Rosalyn Lee Hale were married on March 18, 1952 at the West End Church of Christ in Nashville with Rosalyn’s father, H Clyde Hale, presiding. While working at Williams Printing Company, James was teaching a young persons class at the Donelson Church of Christ. He and Rosalyn began traveling the gravel backroads of DeKalb County on Sundays for him to preach in an old schoolhouse at Temperance Hall. Later he was preaching at Central Pike Church of Christ in Hermitage, Tennessee. Their daughter, Amy, was born to them in Nashville. Roy Vaughn, of the Gospel Advocate Company, encouraged James to take on the work of the Donmoyer Avenue Church of Christ in South Bend, Indiana. While in South Bend, their sons, William and Steve, were added to the family. James accepted an offer to preach for the Red Bank Church of Christ just north of Chattanooga, Tennessee. While at Red Bank, James taught the sixth grade Bible class at Boyd-Buchanan School. During this time his youngest son Sam, was born. He left Red Bank to preach at the Jacksonville Church of Christ in Jacksonville, Alabama; the Central Church of Christ in Jackson, Tennessee; and the East Main Church of Christ in Tupelo, Mississippi. Forty years ago, James and Rosalyn came to Warren County, Tennessee. He preached for the churches of Christ at Rock Island, East End McMinnville, and Leoni. It was during these years that he taught classes for the Nashville School of Preaching and the Middle Tennessee School of Preaching and Biblical Studies. He produced eighteen volumes of sermons in a publication he called “The Burning Fire,” a commentary on the book of Romans, a commentary on the book of Judges, and a collection of sermons on the home in a book titled “O, Give Me A Home.” He was in his 90s when he completed the nineteenth and final volume of The Burning Fire sermons. He was also in his 90s when he completed 370 fifteen-minute radio programs which can still be heard over WBMC on Sunday Afternoons at 4:30 PM.

James was preceded in death by his father, Bowling Briggs Boyd, his mother, Katherine Louise Ballentine Boyd, his older brother Bowling Briggs Boyd Jr., his younger sister Elizabeth Lee Copeland, and daughter-in-law Carol Corlew Boyd. He is survived by his wife of seventy-three years, Rosalyn Lee Hale Boyd, his daughter Amy Louise Hagewood (Lowell), his son William Hale Boyd (Lori), his son Stephen Briggs Boyd (Mary Lee), and his son James Samuel Boyd (Lori), and many nephews and nieces whom he loved. In addition, he is survived by twelve grandchildren, two step grandchildren, and twenty great-grandchildren with two more on the way.

His life was well lived, and his eternal legacy is those who are now in Christ from his labors.

Funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 30, 2025 in High's Chapel with Tony Lawrence officiating. A private family burial will follow in the Old Philadelphia Cemetery in the Vervilla Community of Warren County. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until time of service Saturday at High's.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, PO Box 788, McMinnville, TN 37111 and/or SEEK THE OLD PATHS, P. O. Box 7506, McMinnville, TN 37111.

Online condolences may be made at www.highfuneralhome.com.

High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.