Booker Taliaferro Roy

This is but a brief glimpse into the journey of an amazing man that was loved by all, will be missed deeply and cherished forever.

Major Booker T. Roy II, USAF, Retired of Abilene, Texas passed away on Thursday, August 8, 2019 at the age of 66 in his home.

Booker was born in Mart, Texas to Booker T. Roy I and Thelma L. Roy on September 19, 1952.

He matriculated through the Mart school district and was a proud graduate of Mart High School. He went on to graduate from East Texas State University, now known as Texas A&M University-Commerce.

He served his country honorably in the United States Air Force and retired as a Major. Over the years he was a navigator on bombers and the KC-135, ultimately becoming the Chief Bomber/Tanker Tactics. He also served as an instructor on the KC-135, which led him to his next profession after 20 years of service to his country, as a teacher.

Being a teacher in the Abilene Independent School District was more than a job to Booker; he felt it was his calling. Not only was he focused on the academic success of the students he taught, but he invested in and served the students, parents and fellow teachers who worked alongside him. He has been a counselor, mentor, and advisor, shoulder to cry on, leader and champion to generals, young navigators, base commanders, administrators, coaches, janitors, and most importantly those who entered his class rooms.

He was ever committed to his community and utilized his skill sets to further the mission and vision of several organizations that aligned with his core beliefs and character. Throughout the years he served in many capacities for non-profits, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and his beloved Grace Point Church. He will forever be linked to his service with Kairos Prison Ministry of Texas – Abilene chapter. Kairos' mission to share the transforming love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ to impact the hearts and lives of incarcerated men, women and youth, as well as their families, to become loving and productive citizens of their communities helped change him as well. Through his work with Kairos, Booker became an ordained Chaplain, so that he could further impact those incarcerated.

What he was most proud of and relished was his family. He married Giselle Scott and from this union Booker T. Roy III was born and accepted Victor R. Scott II as his own. He affectionately called them Rocky and T. Roy. He showered his sons with the definition of Agape love in the truest sense. He sacrificed his own wants and needs for his sons continuously throughout his life. He showed them what hard work looked like by teaching it and living it every day. What he poured into his sons was unmerited faith, hope and love. He did not just talk about a relationship with Christ, he showed his sons how to live a life with a relationship to God. "Papa Roy" as he liked to be called by his grandchildren, adored and applied a more passionate unconditional love and support as a grandfather. His role as patriarch of an ever growing family tree was his greatest joy. He relished his four soon to be five grandchildren and spoke life into their futures that has been etched on their destinies and will guide them through the course of their lives.

Loved ones that welcomed Booker T. home are his father Booker T. Roy I and his mother Thelma L. Roy.

Love ones that will miss Booker until they see each other again are his eldest son and daughter in-law Victor and Diana Scott, his namesake and daughter in-law Booker T. and Miranda Roy III, his grandbabies; Nadia, Victoria, Axel and Finn. His brothers; James (Betty) Stewart and Corey (Pamela) Richards. His sisters; Omeria (Michael) Foreman and Lisa Brown, his uncle Herman Roy Sr. and aunt Mary Mims and best friends Cynthia Velez and Carl Martin, along with a host of other known as "Uncle Jr." to his nieces, nephews, cousins and lifelong friends.

Visitation will be on Friday, August 16, from 6 pm until 8 pm at The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd. Funeral Servcies will be held on Saturday, August 17, at Grace Point Church, 221 Oak Street, at 11 am, with Pastor Rich Brown officiating. Burial will be held on Monday, August 19, at 10 am at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Abilene.