MRS. LINDA HILLIARD BOYD, age 80, of Eastman, GA, passed away on Monday, February 9, 2026, at her residence.
MRS. LINDA HILLIARD BOYD, age 80, of Eastman, GA, passed away on Monday, February 9, 2026, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM Friday, February 13, at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, with Rev. Chuck Taylor officiating, with interment in Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Linda was born in Rhine, GA, on April 23, 1945, to the late Bessie Lee Reaves Hilliard and James Edmond Hilliard. She was a resident of Dodge County, a lifelong member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Rhine, and graduated from Dodge County High School. She attended Middle Georgia College and graduated from Georgia Southern University with a degree in K-12 Education. She met her future husband, David Boyd of Statham, GA, and they married on March 18, 1967.
They began their new life together in Macon, where Linda began her tenure as an educator at Winship Elementary. She found her way back to her hometown of Rhine, GA, in 1969, where she taught for many years at Rhine Elementary, and later taught at South Dodge Elementary School, from 1990 to 2005, where she ended her illustrious career after 34 years of dedicated service. After retiring, she taught in the Continuous Education Program for GED certification in Eastman for several years.
Linda enjoyed crocheting, sewing, reading, and was the “Putt Putt” Golf Champion of the family. She loved watching women’s college basketball, being outdoors, listening to music, and was a beloved “Grandma” and “Ma”, who will be dearly missed by her family.
In addition to her parents, Linda was preceded in death by her Husband, David Alexander Boyd, Brother and Sister-in-law, Wilbert J. Hilliard and Betty Hardin Hilliard, Grandson, Mason Jones, Brother-in-law and Sister-in-law, Red and Alice Boyd, Niece, Gerry Boyd Bannon, and Nephews, Joey Weaver and Tim Hilliard.
She is survived by her Daughters – Angie Burch (Ed) and Donna Purvis (Stacey), both of Eastman; Grandchildren – Will Purvis (Wendy) of Pitts, GA, Jonathan Sheffield (Zack) of Hiram, Ina Grace Purvis, and Isabelle Lee Burch, both of Eastman; Great-Grandchildren – Lindsey Keen and Raleigh Purvis; Brothers – Earl Hilliard (Jane) of Hawkinsville, Wayne Hilliard (Wanda) of Rhine, and Stevie Hilliard (Theda) of Edgefield, SC; Sister-in-law – Linda Prescott of Augusta; Nieces and Nephews – Matt Hilliard, Mark Hilliard (Katrina), Joey Hilliard (Dottie), Tim Hilliard (Pauline), Lacey Dellinger (Matt), Trina Franklin (Cal), Tracy Hickman (Andy), Lally Boyd Weaver (Joey), Dubs Boyd (Mary Jo), and Ed Boyd (Georgia); Many Beloved Great-Nieces and Nephews; Numerous cousins and friends; Her Canine Companion – Maybelle.
The family may be contacted at the Boyd residence, 702 Dublin Hwy., Eastman, and will receive friends in Southerland Funeral Chapel from 5:00PM-7:00PM Thursday, February 12. In addition to flowers, the family requests contributions to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, the Ronald McDonald House, www.ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org/donate, or the Gideons International Bible Fund, www.gideons.org/donate.
Locally owned and operated, Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home, has been "A Tradition of Trust" to Eastman, Dodge County and Middle Georgia for over 65 years.