A Memphis pastor was killed in a fatal car accident last weekend, a week after his youngest daughter was baptized.
According to Fox 13, The Rev. Willie Boyd Jr., pastor of Greenwood CME Church, was driving by himself when his car struck a tree at around 7 pm on Saturday. Boyd, 44, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Shelby County Fire Dept.
The accident currently remains under investigation.
Leaders of Greenwood CME Church have expressed their grievances over the loss of their pastor, The Christian Post reports.
"We miss him like a son or a brother," Bishop Emeritus Henry Williamson Sr. of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church said, according to Commercial Appeal.
"That's how people thought about him," the bishop added. "A son or a brother. He's irreplaceable."
The Rev. Marvin Frank Thomas Sr., bishop of the CME, remembered the late pastor as "humble, very committed and dedicated to his work and his family."
"Rev. Boyd was certainly one of the leaders in our denomination. ... He has provided stellar leadership, very active in community and a heart for people, a great love of the gospel, a great preacher and a great singer."
Meanwhile, Assistant Pastor Tyrone Davis shared he was "devastated" by the tragic loss.
"He was just outgoing and so caring, and so concerned about the congregation, about the community, about his work — his family," Davis said of Boyd. "I mean, he was just all-consuming."
He also asserted that Boyd's 1-year-old daughter, who was baptized the previous week, will be looked after by the church.
"We want to put our arms of protection around her and let her know she's not alone," Davis said. "That she's loved, she's cared for, and not just through the immediate days that are coming, but beyond that time to know that this family is still her family."
Toni Williams, Memphis Shelby County Schools Interim Superintendent, also reacted to the news of Boyd's death.
"My prayers are with the family of Pastor Boyd Jr., members of the Greenwood CME Church, and our MSCS family. Pastor Boyd supported our MSCS special population students and families," she tweeted.
My prayers are with the family of Pastor Boyd Jr, members of the Greenwood CME Church, and our MSCS family. Pastor Boyd supported our MSCS special population students and families. We welcome reflections in hopes it will comfort his family in the days to come. pic.twitter.com/BXMwzR3lDJ
— Toni Williams (@SuptCFOToni) October 9, 2022
Boyd is survived by his wife, Ebony, and their three children.
Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Kzenon
Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.
