The community is mourning the loss of South Christian County’s Zachary Boyd, who died Sunday following a long battle with osteosarcoma cancer.
Thousands in southwestern Kentucky, and beyond, had been following his story either personally or through his Facebook group “ZacharyStrong” — which showcased his family adventures, unique experiences, and medical challenges
Boyd was diagnosed in March 2022, and later that year, he was tabbed to light the Hopkinsville Community Christmas Tree in Founders Square — described as a “true warrior” exemplifying the spirit of hope for the holiday.
This past spring, a successful social media campaign put Boyd in contact with famed comedian and master puppeteer Jeff Dunham — through the help and care of Legacy Metals LLC, Hopkinsville Fire/EMS, Starbucks, Bridgestone Arena, Mike Fisher and Carrie Underwood, and many others.
Boyd was also the focus of several fundraisers and rallies at Christian County Public Schools, especially last October when he turned 12 years old at South Christian Elementary School.
At that point, he had faced six surgeries, 10 different chemotherapy drugs, radiation treatment, and more than 100 nights in hospitals. School officials opted to bring awareness to his condition, which had worsened, and during the November “Month of Giving” asked for the district to respond with in-kind donations.
Hopkinsville Fire/EMS officials noted Monday they were “saddened to learn of [his] untimely passing,” and that he had visited the department on multiple occasions over the last couple of years.
They, and many others, were “honored to know him,” because he had “an infectious spirit and an extremely witty personality.”
A celebration for Zach will be on Tuesday, July 9 at 4:00 at Maddux-Fuqua-Hinton Funeral Home.
