BENTON — Dr. Boyd Golding, a former Vicksburg resident, died Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008, at his home in Benton. He was 94.

Dr. Golding was born in Montgomery County to Dewitt Golding and Lillian Gertrude Patridge Golding. He graduated in 1939 from Mississippi College and received his Ph.D. in education from Mississippi State University.

He was a former principal for the Vicksburg Public Schools. He retired from the Mississippi public school system after serving as superintendent of several school districts. He was elected state auditor in 1956, was Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety under Gov. Ross Barnett and served as adviser to several state leaders including U.S. Sen. Jim Eastland and Gov. Barnett.

He was preceded in death by a wife, Winnie Craft Golding.

He is survived by his wife, Ramona Jean Ellis Golding; a stepdaughter, Gail Ellis Conner; a stepson, Kevin Ellis; one sister, Lillian Ethel Lucius; one brother, Powell Golding; five stepgrandchildren; five stepgreat-grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Services will be  at 3 p.m. today at Provine Chapel at Mississippi College in Clinton. Burial will be at Lakewood Cemetery under the direction of Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the Provine Chapel from 1:30 until the service.

Pallbearers will be nephews, Haywood O’Neal, Reid Golding, Warren Everett Golding, Tommy Golding, Ed Golding, David Golding, Pat Golding, Tee Golding, Steve Hood Golding and Steve Lucius.

Honorary pallbearers will be former Gov. Bill Waller, Bill Waller Jr., Steve Golding, George Dale, Dr. Johnny Franklin, Harold Middleton, William Parrett and Pete Walley.

Memorials may be made to the Mississippi College debate team, Clinton, MS.