Isle of Wight County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Boykin, Hon. Richard E., 1908 

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Times Dispatch, Number 17906, 25 April 1908 
p. 2, col. 6 

JUDGE R. E. BOYKIN ENTERS INTO REST 
Well Known Citizen and Jurist Dies in Norfolk - His Life and Work. 
    [Special to The Times-Dispatch.] 

  NORFOLK, VA., Aprll 24.- Hon. Richard Elliott Boykin, judge of the Twenty-
eighth Judicial Circuit, and one of the best known men in Tidewater Virginia, 
died this morning at St. Christopher's Hospital after a prolonged illness. 
Death resulted from a complication of diseases. 

  The body was taken this afternoon to the home of Judge Boykin, in 
Smithfield, and the funeral will take place from Christ Church there to-morrow 
at 11 o'clock.  The Rev. R.S. Carter will conduct the service, and the 
interment will be made in Ivy Hill Cemetery. 

  Judge Boykin had been in bad health since last November, and dangerously ill 
for several weeks, during which two surgical operations were performed.  An 
attack of pneumonia was followed by pleurisy, and his lungs were fatally 
affected. 

       A Widely Known Man. 

  Judge Boykin, who was fifty-six years old, was one of the most widely known 
men in Tidewater Virginia.  At the time of his death he presided over the 
Circuit Courts of Isle of Wight and Princess Anne counties and Portsmouth 
city, which position he had filled for about two years.  He had occupied the 
bench since the creation of this circuit.  Up to his elevation to the 
judgeship Colonel Boykin had been Commonwealth's attorney of Isle of Wight 
county since early manbood.  He filled this office throughout the continuance 
of his legislative career, during which he was member of the House from Isle 
of Wight county and State Senator for eighteen years from the district 
composed of Isle of Wight, Nansemond and Southampton. 

  During the memorable Shands-Boykin fight the Democratic district convention 
was rent with confusion and disorder, and resulted in dual nominations. 
Colonel Boykin was declared the Democratic nominee by the highest party 
authorities, and a bitter fight followed.  Colonel Boykin carried Isle of 
Wight and Nansemond, but did not overcome Shands's lead in Southampton, and 
the latter was elected by 912 majority. 

  This was the only defeat of consequence that Judge Boykin ever suffered 
during a lifelong career in politics. 

       High Rank as Lawyer. 

  As a lawyer Colonel Boykin was regarded as one of the most brilliant 
advocates in Tidewater.  One of the most widely known criminal cases, the 
prosecution of whlch he conducted, was the Andrew Carter Gilligan murder trial 
at Isle of Wight Courthouse ten years ago.  Associated with him was William S. 
Holland, of Windsor, and among the defense lawyers was Judge Drury A. Hinton, 
of Petersburg. 

  Judge Boykin's title of colonel was earned by his service on the staff of 
Governor O'Ferrall. 

           His Family. 

  Judge Boykin is survived by his wife, who was Miss Minnie Wilson, of Surry 
county; one daughter, Miss Minnie Pegram Boykin, and two sons - Richard Pegram 
and Nathaniel Young Boykin.  He also leaves one brother, Dr. A.R. Boykln, and 
two sisters - Mrs. Dr. Lee, of North Carolina, and Miss Mary Boykin, of 
Smithfield. 

  The passing of Judge Boykin means a distinct loss to this section and State. 
His was a strong personality.  In politics he was a valiant foe or a loyal 
friend.  He fought on high planes, but he was as uncompromising as he was 
lofty in ideals; as devoted to hls friends as he was patriotic to his country- 
a much beloved statesman, jurist and Virginia gentleman. 



Col. Richard Elliott BOYKIN, of Smithfield, Judge, former State Senator, 
d. 24 Apr 1908, Norfolk, age 56, 
interred in Ivy Hill Cemetery*, Smithfield, 25 Apr 1908, 
"Times-Dispatch" (Richmond, VA), No. 17905, Apr. 25, 1908, p. 2, col. 6 
   online as part of the Library of Virginia's Virginia Chronicle 
   newspaper database, at: 
   https://virginiachronicle.com/ 

The obituary included a photo, captioned "JUDGE R. E. BOYKIN." 

Isle of Wight County Historical Society {IWCHS} 
   Grave Site Survey Task Force {GSSTF} report #48: 
   http://www.iwchs.com/Cemetery-Reports.html 

He had a namesake nephew, Rev. Richard Elliott BOYKIN, of St. Andrew's, 
   Tampa, FL (1866-1925); he is buried with his parents, Dr. Anthony Read & 
   Ada Cleveland (BOOKER) BOYKIN, in Old St. Luke's Cemetery, Benns Church. 
   (IWCHS GSSTF report #17) 


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