David Pfeiffer Boddiford

SYLVANIA, GEORGIA

DAVID PFEIFFER BODDIFORD

David Pfeiffer Boddiford, 73, passed away on August 5, 2023, after a courageous seven years with liposarcoma.  To the amazement of his doctors and others, he was often found hard at work within hours of his chemo treatments.  He never hesitated to comfort others facing illness in the community and his battle was an inspiration to many.

David was born on June 20, 1950, in Sylvania, GA to the late J. Knapp and Grace Pfeiffer Boddiford.  He was raised on the family farm in the Buck Creek Community and at age 10, began helping his father at Millhaven Plantation.  David raised and showed hogs, becoming a Grand Championship winner.  He was active in high school sports and became a Master 4-H’er in Leadership.  He later served as 4-H counselor at Rock Eagle and camp manager at Camp Fulton. After graduating as STAR Student from Screven County High School in 1968, he received a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern College in Industrial Arts Education and taught one year in Atlanta before returning home in 1974 to work at the family business, Feed, Seed, and Farm Supply.  In 1985, the original family business split into two companies, with David and his father Knapp forming Boddiford Farm Services, which he owned and operated until 2023.

As a lifelong resident of Screven County, David was passionate about his community.  He was a member of Sylvania First United Methodist Church and taught Sunday School for many years, including several at Buck Creek Methodist.  David served as a Screven County Commissioner and on the Boards of the Screven County Industrial Development and Hospital Authorities, including stints as chairman for each.  He was a long-time director on the Farmers & Merchants Bank Board and served on the Policy Development Committee of Screven County Farm Bureau.  He was named a Screven County Rotary Man of the Year, Farm Bureau Man of the Year, and Conservationist of the Year.

David was incredibly knowledgeable and a man of many talents – he held a pilot’s license for many years and was also the owner and a part-time engineer of Ogeechee Railway for two decades.  He had an uncanny memory of phone numbers and rarely found the need for a calculator.  David was a reliable partner, explainer of how things work, changer of oversized tires, school trip chaperone, grabber of the check, determinedly fast walker, Payloader enthusiast, fertilizer extraordinaire, agricultural mentor, and father figure to many.  Above all, he was a gentle man with a kind heart who made clear to his family, friends, and customers that he would do anything for them.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his two sisters, Laura Ariail and Ann Edwards.

David is survived by his wife of 42 years, Deborah ‘Debo’ Shropshire Boddiford; two sons and daughters-in-law, Andrew and Hannah Boddiford of Austin, TX and Eric and Caroline Boddiford of Atlanta, GA; granddaughters, Ebbe Lynn Boddiford of Austin, TX and Larrabee Grace Boddiford of Atlanta, GA; a brother Joseph K. Boddiford, Jr. of Sylvania; a brother-in law and wife, Julius and Julia Ariail of Lake Park, GA; mother-in-law, Suzanne Shropshire of Statesboro, GA; nieces and nephews, Elizabeth Ariail and Joshua Varner of Savannah, GA, Jonathan and Christie Ariail of Thomasville, GA, Knapp Boddiford of Sylvania, and Lauren Boddiford of Atlanta, GA.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 8 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Sylvania First United Methodist Fellowship Hall.

The funeral service will be held Wednesday, August 9 at 2:00 p.m. at the Sylvania First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dorsia Atkinson officiating.  A viewing will be held prior at 1:15 p.m. in the church.  Interment will follow in the Pfeiffer Family Cemetery, Screven County, GA.

Pallbearers are Mark Bragg, Everett Smith, Jay Derriso, Benji Anderson, Jeff Pye, Jerry Clifton, Kerry Hodges, and Jerry Winters.

Honorary Pallbearers are the employees of Boddiford Farm Services, Hobson Parker, and Steve Hancock.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Sarcoma Research at giving.mskcc.org/sarcoma, or Sylvania First United Methodist Church, PO Box 258, Sylvania, GA 30467.