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Members of Butch Boyd’s family are seen here outside the Cherryville Family YMCA. A room in the facility was recently dedicated to Boyd as a memorial to him.

CHERRYVILLE––Edward “Butch” Boyd was a man known for his smile and his altruistic love for others.

As daughter Lea Binderup told The Herald on Monday, her late father (he passed away six months ago) was a Lincoln County native who dedicated 15 years of service to the Cherryville Family YMCA. Members of the local community, Boyd’s family and his circle of friends were on hand at the Y, Feb. 29, for the facility’s grand re-opening––the culmination of two years of work––and for the official naming of a room at the Y in Boyd’s memory. Boyd, building owner Patrick O’Leary and O’Leary’s business partner, Vickie Spurling, were all instrumental in the recent efforts to get the Y into its new home at 215 N. Mountain St. in downtown Cherryville (formerly the home of car dealership Cherry Motors).

Binderup informed that her father was a United States Army veteran of the Vietnam War, and he struggled with the effects of Agent Orange for some 50 years. The eighth of nine children, Butch Boyd grew up extremely poor, she said.

“Having grown up with nothing, he still developed a very generous heart––a servant’s heart,” she observed. “He was a firm believer in the love of God and tried to tell and show others about this love his whole life.”

Binderup revealed that back in the 1970’s and early ’80’s, Boyd worked in the Lincoln County Jaycees. He also held the role of youth minister at Long Shoals Wesleyan Church, and he was a Boy Scout troop leader. In the ’80’s and ’90’s, he was director of the Lincoln County First Responders organization and taught the related course for Gaston College.

And Boyd did all of this while working as the director of communications for Carolina Freight in Cherryville. When Carolina Freight closed, he worked for Sprint and then transitioned to working for account marking at WMIT radio.

“This job led to his ultimate dream job: working at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte,” said Binderup. “He had to give up that position after a major stroke affected his ability to speak and drive. He worked to regain his health. This led to his employment at the YMCA in Cherryville. He had poured so much of himself into the Lincolnton and Cherryville communities already, but this job gave him another chance to continue to serve. He hired and served as a mentor to many youth through jobs there. He wasn’t their boss but more of a counselor and grandparent.”

She added that her father taught the Silver Sneakers aerobic classes at the YMCA, and he wholeheartedly loved these elderly members.

“My dad realized how precious time and fellowship were to these often-lonely people, and he started what he called ‘Happier Hour,’” she informed. “Once a month, these senior citizens would join together for food, fellowship, games and such. He treasured this experience.”

Binderup pointed out that her father did all he did while continually battling debilitating and painful health conditions. These finally caught up with him in September of 2023.

“As our family was gathered around him, knowing he only had minutes to live, his last word was ‘smile,’” Binderup recalled. “It was just like him to try to help us look at life––and death––in God’s light. After he passed away, I was almost overwhelmed by the number of people that came to me to tell me how my dad had such an impact on their lives; how who they are and what they do tracks back to him. He had told me before he died that he was ready to go, but he felt there was more to be done. I have to believe that it is through these people he touched that his legacy, love and ministry for others and his smile will continue to touch this community.

“During the funeral arrangements, our family decision was unanimous that memorials should be made to the YMCA in Cherryville,” she added. “We reached out to the Y leadership, and within 10 minutes, we had their answer of ‘yes.’ They said they’d be honored to receive these memorial funds and that the funds would go to continuing his ‘Happier Hour’ time and that the room used for this activity would be named in his memory. My dad was loved by so many. He gave so much of his time, heart, work and worries to this community. I miss him greatly, every day. But it does bring some peace knowing that he is still giving to and serving the community through those who loved him and this new and growing Y facility.”

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