James Marion Boyce Jr.

James Marion Boyce, Jr., 71, passed away on February 11, 2024 in Lexington, SC. 

He was born in Sumter, SC on March 4, 1952, the son of James Marion Boyce, Sr. and Frances Carolyn Bennett Boyce. 

Jim graduated from North Charleston High School in 1970 and The Citadel in 1974. He taught and coached at his alma mater, North Charleston High School from 1975-1978 where he met the love of his life, Annie Lewie Walker. They married on December 18, 1976 at Summerall Chapel, The Citadel. They were married for 48 years. 

He left coaching and teaching to work for Annie’s father at W C Wilbur and Co in North Charleston where he sold and serviced property and casualty insurance. 

After 10 successful years in insurance, he returned to coaching and teaching at North Charleston High from 1988-2001. Jim coached football, softball, wrestling, and started the boys’ soccer program at North Charleston High. He coached his son, Marion, in football and soccer, and his daughter, Sarah Nell, in softball. 

Jim was a football and soccer official in Charleston. He also served on the Park Circle Recreation Commission. He was a member of the North Charleston Kiwanis Club, the SC Coaches Assoc., and SC High School League. Jim was a lifetime member of the Association of Citadel Men and a member of the Brigadier Foundation. 

In 2001, Jim and Annie moved to Aiken, SC, where Jim taught and coached at South Aiken High School from 2001-2015. Jim coached football, boys baseball and girls softball. 

He influenced the lives of countless young people in the classroom and on the field. 

In 2014, Jim and Annie moved to Lexington, SC to live near their grandchildren. 

Annie and Jim were active members of North Charleston United Methodist Church where Jim served as church treasurer, sang in the church choir, served on the staff parish committee, and was co- founder with his wife, Annie, of North Charleston Methodist Pre-School and daycare. 

In Aiken, Jim was an active member of St. John UMC in Augusta, Georgia. In Lexington, SC, Jim belonged to Mt. Horeb Methodist Church where he sang in the choir, was an active member of the Sonrise Adult class, All for One small group, and served on the Administrative Board. 

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Annie Lewie Walker Boyce, of Lexington, SC. He is also survived by his children, James Marion Boyce III (Lawra) of Lexington and their two dear children, Kate and Emmalyn, a daughter, Sarah Nell Boyce Blackwell ( Robert) of Moncks Corner, SC. 

Jim leaves to cherish his memory, his precious mother, Frances Bennett Boyce of Mt. Pleasant, and two sisters, Frances Boyce Cummings (Ed) of North Charleston and Kimberly Jane Boyce Harris ( Wayne) of Charleston. He was predeceased by his father, James Marion Boyce Sr., and his brother-in law, Dr. Jerre Kelly Chambers. 

His family expresses great appreciation to the staffs at Westminster Memory Care and Wellmore Skilled nursing and Lighthouse Hospice for their tender, loving care of him the past four years. 

We are heartbroken because we remain here on earth without him, but we have the greatest hope because we KNOW that we will all be reunited one day soon. 

The family will receive friends Thursday, February 15, 2024 from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM in the chapel at Mt Horeb Church in Lexington, SC. 

His funeral service will be held in the sanctuary at Mt. Horeb Church on Friday, February 16, 2024 at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow at Riverview Memorial Cemetery in North Charleston at 3:00 PM. 

Donations in Jim’s name may be made to The Citadel Brigadier Foundation for the class of 1974 stained glass window restoration in Summerall Chapel 171 Moultrie St. Charleston, SC 29401 or Circles program at Mt. Horeb Church 1205 Old Cherokee Rd. Lexington, SC 29072

2 Corinthians 5:8

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.