HAZEL CREST, Ill.––Wardell Boyd, prayer advocate for Northern Illinois Conference, died Oct. 28.

“Brother Boyd was a rock of a man,” said Steve Nailor, president of Northern Illinois Conference UM Men. “His love for the church and men's work goes beyond what I could ever begin to explain. Wardell has been a friend and brother to us all. He will be deeply missed.”

“Our brother Wardell was committed to the Lord, his beloved church and promoting the work of our Prayer Center,” said Migdiel Perez, manager of The Upper Room Living Prayer Center. “He was our main contact and remote coordinator during many conference retreats and events supporting the Upper Room Prayer Line for many years. I know he is resting at peace in the arms of our Heavenly Father.”

At Hazel Crest Community UMC, Boyd modeled a two-hour monthly remote prayer line for other churches in the annual conference, and he led efforts to raise funds for the Nashville-based ministry.

Boyd and Nailor attended the 2013 meeting of the National Association of Conference Presidents and Prayer Advocates where Boyd presented the prayer ministry a check for $1,000 on behalf of the conference.

Boyd also served Hazel Crest Community UMC as president of UM Men, chair of the Board of Trustees and co-chair of the Food Pantry.

Boyd is former president of the Southern District UM Men, and he has been a member of the executive committee of Northern Illinois Conference UM Men for18 years.

He also provided alternative life choices for at-risk students by teaching automotive mechanics at an evening vocational school and the Washburne Trade School. His care for students and his work ethic also provided an example for students who frequently had few positive role models.

Boyd was inducted into the Society of John Wesley in 2011.