James Boyd

Mr. James (Jim) Boyd, age 83, of Atlanta, Georgia passed away surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, June 19th, 2024. Jim was born on September 15th, 1940 in PA. He was the son to the late Joseph and Mildred Boyd.

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Jim was married to the love of his life, JoEllen for 31 years! They lived an adventurous life that saw them reside in VA, then Hawaii and finally back to Atlanta to live near their daughter Ashley and brand-new Grandson, Micah. Jim and JoEllen were avid followers of the Lord, and spent most of their time with family, friends, the church, missionaries and various members of the community that they supported!

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Jim graduated from the University of MD, and then Moody Bible College to fulfill his adult goal of being a minister. Jim joined the Methodist church and spent the next 20 years as a full time Pastor and Chaplain in the Army National Guard. He managed several churches across the MD, VA and DC area. He had 4 kids, who are now adults of their own, and live across the globe with their families (and 4 Grandkids!). Jim left the full-time ministry in 1990 to open a few of his own businesses including a home repair company, a pizza delivery business and marketing organization.

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Jim’s lifelong passion was to help people, especially those that had the odds stacked against them. After returning from overseas military duty in the 1960’s, Jim started working in halfway homes in New York in 1960’s. A few years later, he moved to Chicago to work with some of the most feared gangs in Chicago’s South side. He spent years putting himself in immense danger to bring the word of God to these despondent men and women, many of whom died from the violence. He turned many of these lives around, and captured the story in an autobiography he published called “A Bullet for Jesus”

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He spent the last few years involved in a local ‘prison ministry’, once again helping those who didn’t have others in their corner. Jim lived the teachings of the bible; including Matthew 25:35-40 in the new Testament: ….”The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”

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Jim loved to sing and was an active member in every choir he could find. He loved Gospel music and could be seen singing and dancing at various music festivals throughout his adult life. An eternal optimist, empathic listener, and fierce fighter for anyone who needed him, Jim brought joy and hope to everyone he met through 70+ years of service and sacrifice.

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Jim is survived by his wife Joellen, Sister; Joy Mauthe, loving children: Jim (Jr) of Sydney Australia, Cara of Lima Peru, Ashley of Ball Ground Georgia; 4 amazing Grandchildren, Niece; Dove Boyd, several nieces and nephews, many friends, and the thousands of lives he touched and improved through all his counseling and ministry over the years. He certainly received a hero’s welcome in Heaven!

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Funeral services to honor his life of service are being coordinated and details will follow once they are confirmed.