Haywood High School mourns loss of basketball coach Patrice Boyd

BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — Faculty, staff and students at Haywood High School are remembering the impact of a well-respected coach, and the legacy she leaves behind.

“This morning Coach Boyd did not report to work on time like she usually does. Our administrator hadn’t heard from her, so she asked our school SRO to go do a wellness check on her,” said Haywood County Schools athletic director Tim Seymour.

During that check, officers found Haywood High School girls basketball coach Patrice Boyd dead. Now, her players, coworkers and community are remembering her life and the impact she made on Haywood County.

“Her death impacts the school, but it reaches outside of the school. It’s a death that impacts this entire community. Coach Boyd is a Tomcat legend, from her time here as a player, from her time away when she went to college, and then that she chose to return,” Seymour said.

Boyd graduated from Haywood High School in 1996. She then returned as an administrator, teacher and coach, leading the Lady Tomcats to the TSSAA state semifinals in 2018.

But, she was more than just a leader on the court. She was a beloved mentor and friend.

“I think that our class is truly saddened. Class of 2021, specifically, because we’ve just had a lot of time with her,” said senior class treasurer Trey Cunningham. “She just embodies this tough love type of mentality and to lose that, we just haven’t appreciated it until now.”

Cunningham says he will miss the toughness Boyd instilled in so many Haywood students.

“As a class officer, we would have a lot of meetings and she would fuss at me a lot, and I think that I’ll truly miss her fussing at me and the other class officers and making sure that we had everything that we need,” Cunningham said.

Seymour says the future of girls basketball is uncertain at this time.

“We’re about our kids, and we’re going to let our kids make that decision. If our young ladies choose to play, then we will move forward because we do feel that that’s what Coach Boyd would want, but we’re going to put that in the hands of our young ladies,” Seymour said.

Faculty and students say this is not only a time for mourning, but a time for mourning within the entire community.

Classes have been cancelled Friday for Haywood High School students.

Haywood High School confirmed Friday morning on social media that the Lady Tomcats have chosen to play their home game as scheduled against Millington, with tip-off set for 6 p.m.