Birth Date: 02/21/1952
Deceased Date: 01/03/2023
Linda Ann Moore Boykin died in the early hours of January 3, 2023, with her loving husband of 51 years, Jimmy Boykin, by her side. Thank you to the staff of SECU Hospice House in Smithfield, NC, for their compassionate care. Linda, a feisty, 5’2″ beauty with blue eyes and silver hair, was born in Smithfield on February 21, 1952, to the late Jimmy Moore and Genevieve Moore.
Linda was the eldest of three siblings. Linda leaves behind her sister, Becky Moore Dean, brother, Marty Moore (Lori), and cousins, Ruth (Steve) Sullivan, and David (Rita) and Brian (Karen) Faison.
Linda graduated from North Johnston High School in 1970, and married the love of her life, Grover Lee Boykin Jr. “Jimmy” on September 17, 1971. Linda was an active member of Pine Level Missionary Baptist Church (PLMBC) in Pine Level, NC, and served as a group leader for Bible Study Fellowship in Johnston County for many years. She loved decorating PLMBC during the Advent season, especially “Hanging of the Greens,” and sang soprano in the choir, often smiling mischievously to suppress a giggle at the jokes of her fellow choir members. You could also see Linda wiping tears from her eyes after singing songs about Jesus, or gazing with love at Jimmy sitting in the balcony, or when he was preaching in the pulpit.
Linda’s children created a sparkle in her eyes, often causing them to well with emotion when she had the opportunity to talk about Christopher “Bull” Boykin and Jennifer “Jenny” Lynn Boykin Dennis. For more than 30 years, Linda was an avid football mom. You could find her cheering under Friday night lights during hundreds of games, first for her son as a player, and later when he coached high school football. Even during her final months, when it was hard to maneuver because of chemotherapy and radiation, she picked out a lovely scarf and hat, and stubbornly made it up the bleachers to support her oldest grandson, Noah, on the South Johnston football field. She famously encouraged Bull and Noah to “Make ’em eat dirt!”
In the last decade, Linda, also known as Nana to her family, treasured her daily phone conversations with her daughter, Jenny, and enjoyed planning regular visits with PaPa to Hendersonville, TN, to visit Jenny, her son-in-law, Levi, and youngest grandson, Bentley. Nana spent many hours rocking, snuggling, and reading to Bentley, and calling him on FaceTime when the miles separated them.
For her granddaughters, Dianna and Meredith, Nana shared a special bond, never missing a basketball game or school award program, spending weekends loving on small hands, feet, and cheeks, cooking special recipes, celebrating birthdays, dance recitals, and family meals around her dining room table; all while pairing the perfect outfit and lipstick with her jewelry.
Nana encouraged her children and grandchildren to live for Jesus, reassuring her family right until the very last day. Nana, though small, was larger-than-life, a tireless worker, loved taking care of others, and telling stories with PaPa, careful to add all the important details to bring each memory alive. She loved to reminisce with her Faison cousins about her beloved aunt and uncle, Edna and Norwood, her Granny Faison, and her mother-in-law, Margie Braswell. Those stories will remain in our hearts, along with the beautiful music of Nana’s laughter.
Nana loved Brenda Gantt recipes, thrift store antiquing, and spent her life creating a loving, Godly home for her family, filled with beautiful hand-selected decorations and delicious home-cooked meals. The love she had for her high school sweetheart, Jimmy, could only be eclipsed by her love for Jesus.
Linda’s happiest moments were spent when sharing her home and her faith with friends and family. Nana was a protector, an encourager, and friend. She loved her little sister Becky, and adored her nieces and nephews. She could snap unruly grandchildren into line with a glance, followed by stern finger-pointing, and eventually a giant hug and kiss.
Linda worked for the Pepsi-Cola plant in Selma until it closed in 1994 and retired with the State of North Carolina, Department of Corrections in February 2014. She cherished many friendships in these jobs, and leaves a legacy of hard work and compassionate care for others.
Nana leaves behind her husband, Jimmy Boykin, of Clayton, son Christopher Boykin (Sara) of Four Oaks, daughter, Jennifer Dennis (Levi) of Hendersonville, TN, and grandchildren, Bentley Dennis, and Dianna, Noah, and Meredith Boykin.
Funeral services will be conducted Monday, January 9, 2023 in the chapel of Parrish Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Maplewood Cemetery in Clayton. The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Sunday evening at Parrish Funeral Home in Selma.
Flowers are appreciated or memorial contributions may be sent to SECU Hospice House, Attn: Johnston Health Foundation, P.O. Box 1378, Smithfield, NC 27577.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at parrishfh.com.
