VIRGINIA LYNN BOYD
passed away peacefully in her home on February 27,
2024, following a brief illness. Virginia, or “Sissy” as she was lovingly called by her grandsons and close family, was born October 16, 1934 in St. Louis,
Mo. Her family moved to Little Rock, Ark., in 1943, and the town was forever changed.
Virginia graduated from Little Rock High School, now Central High School, and received a B.A. in History from The University of Arkansas. After raising two children, she became involved in the family business, Parkin Printing and Stationery Company. Later Virginia became a partner at New Traditions, a women’s clothing store in The Heights that she ran with two of her life-long friends, Mary Lou Cravens and Jane Flack.
Virginia was a natural athlete. True to her contrarian nature, in a family of golfers she adopted the sport of tennis. Although she would deny it, Virginia was a tenacious competitor, and her opponents feared her “double-jointed backhand.” Later in life, she took up the game of golf. Virginia called it “a wonderful waste of time,” but she regularly drove the ball farther than her younger playing partners, and instilled a love of the game in her son and grandsons.
Virginia adored her husband, Harper Boyd, whom she married in 1978. Virginia and Harper enjoyed many happy years of companionship, and spent their time entertaining, traveling, and spending leisure time at their second home in Naples, Fla. After her daughter’s untimely death in 1994, Virginia became devoted to her grandsons, routinely hosting them during summer or winter holidays for what they later called “Camp Sissy.” Sissy and her grandsons enjoyed tennis, golf, and swimming together, along with endless chocolate milk shakes. During their time together, Virginia also shared her passion for business, the stock markets, and investments, which would have a lasting impact on her grandsons’ educational pursuits and future careers.
Virginia was an avid Arkansas Razorbacks fan, as are her sons and grandsons. If she had more time, she may have converted
her great-granddaughters away from the influence of the Georgia Bulldogs.
Virginia loved to help others. She was always the first to visit in an hour of need and routinely checked on friends who were sick or recovering. She loved cooking and entertaining and was the editor of the Little Rock Cooks cookbook. Her delicious pot roast was the family favorite. Virginia inherited her father’s green thumb and love for birds. She maintained one of the most beautiful gardens in Little Rock, and was constantly trying to figure out how to outfox the squirrels. She also had an incredibly sharp wit that even had doctors laughing during her last days.
Virginia was predeceased by her parents, Jack T. Lynn and Louise “Park” Lynn; brother, Jack P. Lynn; husband, Harper Boyd; daughter, Lynn Harris; and special friends, Jim Flack and Allan Meadors.
Virginia is survived by her son, Jay Harris (Nora), step-daughter, Sarah Boyd (Jens), grandsons, Patrick Harris (Jessica), Christopher Harris (Madeline); step-grandchildren, Sean, Hailey, and Celine Boyd; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth and Charlotte Harris; nephew, Steve Lynn (Claire); niece, Laurie Tinnell (Paul), and niece Lisa Karamillakis (Theo).
The family requests that memorials in her name be made to the Arkansas Childrens Hospital—L. Lynn Harris Lecture, Christ Episcopal Church of Little Rock, or First Tee of Little Rock.
Guests are welcome to visit the family from 4-6:00 on Friday, March 1st at Ruebel Funeral Home, 6313 W. Markham Street in Little Rock. A graveside service will be held at Roselawn Cemetery at 10:00 on Saturday, March 2, 2024. The family would like to thank her caregivers who helped her over the last two and a half weeks of her life. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com