Frank Boykin

A lifelong Mississippian known for his dedicated career and love for family, Louie Franklin “Frank” Boykin Sr. was a respected figure in his community. Born on September 5, 1941, in Catchings, he was a talented athlete in his youth, attending Mississippi Delta Junior College on a basketball and baseball scholarship after graduating from Anguilla High School. Mr. Boykin, a 75-year-old White male, also served his country in the National Guard and was an active member of the Civil Defense in the Greenville and Leland areas during the 1960s and 1970s. For 38 years, he was a valued employee at the U.S. Department of Agriculture experiment station in Stoneville, where he worked in Cotton Mechanization and even had several of his testing machines patented by the USDA.

After a long and successful career, Mr. Boykin entered retirement but remained active by managing rental properties for Clint Johnson. In his leisure time, he was passionate about coaching champion little league baseball teams in Leland. His favorite pastimes included watching classic westerns and football games. Above all, he cherished his role as a grandfather and loved spending time with his grandchildren. He is remembered by a loving family, including his son, Louie Franklin “Frankie” Boykin, Jr., a brother, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

The peaceful life Mr. Boykin had built came to a violent end on Friday, September 1, 2017. He was found deceased inside his apartment at the Deer Creek Apartments in Leland, Mississippi, where he also served as the manager. It was determined that he had been killed by gunfire. The discovery of his body launched a homicide investigation, sending a shockwave through the quiet community where he was well-known and regarded.

The Leland Police Department took the lead on the investigation into Mr. Boykin's murder. However, in the years that have followed, public information regarding the specific circumstances of his death has been scarce. Details about potential suspects, a motive, or any significant leads have not been released to the public. The case has grown cold, leaving his family and community without answers or a sense of justice for the beloved patriarch and friend.

In December 2018, the Leland Police Department, working with the U.S. Marshals Service, announced the arrest of a man named Cordell Dwayne Patterson Jr. on a homicide charge. While this arrest brought a flicker of hope for resolution in the area's unsolved cases, there has been no publicly available information to confirm any connection between Patterson's arrest and the murder of Frank Boykin. The investigation into who killed Mr. Boykin remains officially open but without any significant public updates.

Years have passed since Frank Boykin was tragically taken from his loved ones. His funeral service was held on September 9, 2017, at Boone Funeral Home in Leland, and he was laid to rest in the Hollandale Cemetery. As of today, his case remains unsolved, a painful and unanswered question for his family and all who knew him. The absence of progress in the investigation leaves a void in the community and underscores the devastating impact of unsolved gun violence. There have been no reports of any rewards offered for information in this case, and the Leland Police Department continues to be the primary agency for any potential tips.