James Calvin Boyd

James Calvin Boyd passed away Saturday August 22 in Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Boyd was 86. JC had been battling various heart and lung ailments for most of this year, but had shown remarkable improvements over the last several months. His passing was a surprise to his health care providers and family. He maintained his positive attitude and desire for life to the end talking positively on Friday to his son about plans for next week-ends visit, and to his daughter about a surprise birthday party for his granddaughter. Mr. Boyd is survived by his granddaughter Kendall Lauren Pasley, his daughter Susan Boyd Pasley and her husband Ken Pasley, his son Cesile Boyd, and two siblings Marjorie Shotton of Texas and Bill Boyd of Massachusetts. He is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Willadean Hyatt Boyd, his mother Carrie Harding Boyd and father William Washington Boyd of Candler N.C, his sister Norma Boyd Shillinglaw of Texas, and his brother Bob Boyd of Boston. Mr. Boyd graduated from Candler High School in 1940 and served his country in World War II being honorably discharged in 1946. Music was a life long passion of JC's, and after the war, he founded the Friendly Five gospel quartet of Asheville, N.C. They traveled the South from West VA to Florida sharing the stage with some of the biggest names of the day, had a weekly radio show on WISE in Asheville, and recorded on the Acme record label. The quartet disbanded in the late 50's, but he continued his love of music singing with the Talley Brothers Quartet and as the choir director at Mt. Moriah Church. JC spent most of his professional career working in the man made fiber industry, for American Enka / BASF in North Carolina and at their Lowland Tennessee plant, and later for North American Rayon in Elizabethton, Tennessee. He loved computers and technology, taking long drives, visiting his Island home in Kiawah, golf, and following University of Tennessee athletics. His greatest joy by far however was spending time with his family, particularly when his only grandchild Kendall was present. A short graveside service will be held at Mt. Moriah Wesleyan Church in Candler, NC on Thursday August 27, at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Jim Moretz officiating. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the American Heart Association are appreciated.