Belle Wilson-Boyd
May 16, 1937 - March 12, 2015
Obituary
Belle Wilson-Boyd (aka, Willie Belle), was born to Lesly Wilson and Henryene Gallion, May 16, 1937 in Saint Louis Missouri, where she attended elementary school. At age twelve she and her family relocated to Detroit Michigan. There she attended McMichael Junior High School and Northern High School graduating in 1954. After graduation she enrolled in the Detroit Institute of Commerce. She was employed by the Federal Government in Detroit where she worked for ten years.
Belle, an only child left the Motown city and moved to Portland, Oregon in 1966 to be near her mother Henryene Edwards. In 1968 she relocated to Seattle Washington where she enrolled in the University of Washington and was later hired to work in the Department of Oceanography at the UW.
She later worked as Executive Secretary for the United States Department of Commerce (USDOC) for thirty seven and a half years. Other companies of employment included the Boeing Company, University of Washington, and part-time for the Atlantic Street Center after retiring.
She united with Mount Zion Baptist Church in 1983, although she grew up in the Methodist Church. She loved her church family, attended faithfully and willingly served in the various ministries. She was a devoted member of Priscilla Circle serving as Circle Leaded as well as member and circle leader of Gloria Jewel Waganer circle. Belle also served as Correspondence Secretary of the Women’s Ministry. She was a member of the Inspirational Chorus until her health would not permit. She was one of the first females to join the tenor section of the inspirational chorus. She was a choir soloist and served as president of the choir.
A few years ago she teamed up with members of the New Black Arts West group, participating in the presentation of “Dark Divas”. This was a group of talented local black women singing songs of many black female artists of times gone by. She also performed in the Christmas presentation of Black Nativity for a number of years traveling with the group throughout the country and abroad. Her love of traveling too her to Canada, she traveled to Mexico with the Northwest Baptist Credit Union, she also visited South Africa and Japan with The Total Experience Gospel Choir.
Belle had beautiful handwriting and enjoyed Writing, Reading, Singing, Modeling, Traveling, and spending quality time with her family and friends. She dearly loved her children and grandchildren. She never forgot from whence she came frequently traveling back to Saint Louis to visit her aunts, uncle, cousins, and many family members there. Belle was happily married to the late Joe Boyd III for eleven years.
One of her favorite passage of Scriptures come from 1 Cor.13; One of her favorite songs, “Perfect Peace”. Her signature song as soloist for the Inspirational Chorus was, “I’ll fly Away”.
Belle was preceded in death by Husband, Joe Boyd III; Mother Henryene Edwards and Father, Lesly Wilson. She is survived by Daughters Marceline D. Sims (Robert Straub), Karen Sims-Parker, and Alia Munroe; Sons – Henry McLeod (Rachael), and Anthony Boyd; Grandchildren-Alexandria, Simone, Tsehay, Kiddus, Josiah, Mekela, and Spencer; Great granddaughter- Zoe.
I’m so sorry to hear of Belle’s passing. I am Joe Boyd III cousin. My prayers and condolences to the family.