Mary Ellen Rogers Boykin was born in Selma, Alabama July 21, 1934, to the late Pete and Mary Bryant Rogers. She departed this life on Christmas morning 2015 at her home under the care of her daughters and the SouthernCare Hospice Service.

Mary Ellen was joyfully married to Phillip Boykin, Sr. for 44 years; the union produced four offspring, Phillip II, Eric, Cheryl and Crystal, along with a few devoted canines.

Mary Ellen acknowledged Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior and she was a faithful and lifelong member of Tabernacle Baptist Church, where she served as a deaconess for 42 years while serving on the Usher Board and various other committees.

Mary Ellen was a graduate of R.B. Hudson High School, attended Talladega College and completed her education at Alabama State University. She served as a physical education teacher for Selma Public Schools for 29 and a half years and she worked for the City of Selma’s recreation “green box” department for well over 30 years. Ward 5’s City Councilman and the Payne School Reunion Team recently honored her for her dedication to the youth in her community.

Mary Ellen was a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and she was an active member of The Selma Alumnae Chapter since 1971.

Mary Ellen loved her flowers and gardening, garnering her a city of Selma Beautification Award.

She also loved tennis and played in the city’s tennis league. She even won first place for women in the first annual Jubilee Golf Tournament. A passionate traveler, she navigated the Pyramids of Egypt, scaled the Rock of Gibraltar, traversed the waters of the South Pacific and Caribbean and many destinations in between. She has made her last journey.

Mary Ellen is survived by her son, Eric (Hongxia) Boykin of Charleston, South Carolina and two daughters, Cheryl (Smith) Riviere of Charleston, South Carolina and Crystal Boykin of Selma; two brothers, William, “Bill” Rogers of Spring Valley, New York and Louis Thomas Rogers of Milton, Florida; one sister-in-law, Elnora Boykin of Moore, Oklahoma; six grandchildren, Eric (Raenell) Boykin of Portsmouth Virginia, Kim (Robert) McLaurine of Waldorf, Maryland, Raven Boykin of Norfolk, Virginia, Boykin and Asia Riviere of Charleston, South Carolina and Alexandria Amamgbo of Oakland, California; and six great-grand children, Deianera, Saniyah and Robert, McLaurine and Jaylan and Xavier Brown; dearest acquaintances, Joyce O’Neal, Malcolm Givhan and Diane Bell; and cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.

Mary Ellen was preceded in death by her parents, husband and eldest son as well as her brothers, Pete, Jr., Jesse James, Benjamin Franklin, George Carver and Cecil Evans Rogers, and sisters, Louvenia Cade, Juanita R. Ransom and Elizabeth Kilpatrick.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Dec.31, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the historical Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, 1431 Broad Street, Selma. Interment will be at Fairlawn Memory Garden and the repast will be held at the George Evans Building, 2 Lawrence Street.