Betty Burn Boykin (also known as Nina Elisabeth Burn Boykin) of Newport News, peacefully passed away, at age 85, on May 2nd surrounded by loved ones after a short bout with an aggressive late-stage cancer.

Betty was born in 1939 to Nina and Charles H. Burn Sr. in St. Petersburg Florida. When she was very young, her family moved to Charleston, South Carolina where she was raised and received her early education at Ashley Hall. She married her High School sweetheart Richard M Boykin Jr (Dickie), whom she supported until 1962 by working for a reputable Charleston attorney while Dickie was in college at the University of South Carolina.

In 1963, Betty and Dickie moved to Hampton, Virginia, where they brought up their two children, Ashley and Ricky. While living in Hampton, Betty volunteered at Hampton General Hospital and was involved with Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts. In later years, she cared for her mother, and became a career property manager for a local investor. In 1972, while active with the Hampton Junior Woman's Club, she and Dickie had the honor of chaperoning at the Miss World USA Beauty Pageant Finals held at the Hampton Coliseum.

She loved socializing and could frequently be found playing Bridge, spending time at the Hampton Yacht Club, having lunch with friends or with the Greeting 2U ladies group. She enjoyed boating with Dickie and they spent much of their time enjoying company on the water. She enjoyed entertaining and cooking for others but was particularly adamant about protecting her delicious crab dip recipe.

When not socializing, she could be found fulfilling her strong affinity for adventure, traveling and experiencing new things while getting outside of her comfort zone, and living fully. She did not let her physical and visual shortcomings impact her pursuit for the best life has to offer.

She was preceded in death by her husband Richard M. Boykin, Jr. and parents, Nina and Charles H. Burn Sr.. Surviving are her daughter, Elisabeth Ashley Boykin; son, Richard M. Boykin III; brother, Charles H. Burn Jr.; grandson, Dominic (Scooter) Hunter Boykin; her goddaughter, Kimberly Edwards; and many long-term friends.

A memorial service will be conducted 11:00 AM Saturday, June 15th at St. John's Episcopal Church by Reverend Mark D. Riley.

The family wishes expressions of sympathy to take the form of contribution to the Cancer Research Institute, cancerresearch.org or the American Cancer Society, cancer.org.