Nancy Patriece Parker Boyd was born in Opelika, Alabama on July 27, 1966. She was born to William A. and Patsy Boyd Parker. Nancy lived in Opelika and attended Jeter Elementary School, Opelika Junior High School, and Opelika High School. She graduated with honors from Opelika High School in 1984. It was in high school that Nancy fell in love with journalism and received her first job anchoring drive-time news at WJHO-AM radio. Nancy was not the shy little girl who started school at Jeter, she was involved in many activities, among them was the Girl Scout Troop 121, a first-class girl scout troop. She played flute in the junior and senior high school bands and joined the Yearbook and Mainstreet Gazette staff. Nancy also started her political career by running for first vice president of the Junior High School Student Government Association. Her slogan was “Don’t be fancy, Vote for Nancy.” She won!
In tenth grade, without Nancy’s knowledge, Nancy’s mother entered a picture of her in the Miss Teenage America contest sponsored by Teen Magazine. Her picture came out every month and each time the group would be smaller. Nancy was named one of the six finalists. This won her a trip to Hollywood, California. In her senior year, Nancy won the much coveted Miss OHS beauty pageant. She was elected the first black Miss OHS in the history of the school. She was on her way to making her dreams come true. At seventeen, she was covering the news with a tape recorder and a dream.
Nancy was the recipient of many scholarships. She accepted a full scholarship in journalism to Mercer University and attended for one semester, later she decided she would attend the University of Alabama on a communications scholarship. Alabama was
a perfect fit. She graduated from Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism with a minor in Speech Communications in 1988. Immediately after graduation, she interned for Congressman Bill Nichols in Washington, D. C. However, she could not wait to embark on her passion as a journalist. The chance came when WTVM in Columbus, Georgia hired her as an Alabama Bureau Reporter. The journey began. From this appointment, Nancy moved to WSFA in Montgomery, Alabama as a morning cutin Anchor/Reporter from February 1989 until 1990. Nancy met a very handsome young man while doing a story in Tuskegee, Alabama and asked him to assist her in carrying her camera. He, too, was a struggling journalist and wanted to beat her to the story. He
didn’t beat her, but asked her for a date. That was the beginning of a beautiful love story.
Soon after, both accepted jobs in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where Nancy co-anchored the 5 p.m. news with Vernon Roger. Glynn proposed to Nancy in Baton Rouge and the young news couple had a beautiful wedding in Opelika in the fall of 1994. Nancy started her New Orleans career as Weekend Anchor at WVUE Fox 8 News. Glynn worked at ABC
Channel 26 in New Orleans. Later, Nancy moved to the anchor position and continued in various anchoring positions for WVUE until her untimely death. Over 23 years, Nancy worked diligently to make a change in her beloved New Orleans, Louisiana. For her diligence, perseverance, intellect, and genuine love of all mankind, she received many honors and awards. Among the awards are five Emmy awards, seven Emmy nominations, numerous Associated Press awards, five or more Edward R. Murrow Awards. In 2015, Nancy received the prestigious Bert Banks Distinguished Service Award from Alabama and in 2018, she received the University of Alabama’s School of Communications Board of Visitors Appointment. She also received the 2018, Suncoast Emmy Silver Circle Award. She was named Vice President of the Emmy Board of Directors based in Miami Florida.
Nancy continued to teach, learn, and fight for the rights of her fellow man. She is the author of three children’s books entitled, The Adventures of Yat and Dat - What’s Cooking?, The Adventures of Yat and Dat - SUPERDOME! and Yat and Dat Present
STUCK. These books are colorful and informative.
Nancy is survived by her husband Glynn Boyd, three beautiful children, Parker Coleman Boyd (19), Piper Harris Boyd (14) and Pierce Howard Boyd (14); her parents, William and Patsy Boyd Parker and her brother William A. Parker, Jr.
Nancy was a member of the St. Luke AME Church in Opelika, AL. Nancy and her family attended the Mt. Airy Baptist Church in Boutte, LA.
