Ernest Aloysius Boykins Jr. died Sunday, March 14, 2010, in Hattiesburg. He was 78.

Mr. Boykins was born in Vicksburg to Georgia and Ernest Boykins Sr. He was a graduate of St. Mary’s Catholic School and received a degree in biology from Xavier University.

He taught biology at Alcorn State University before receiving his master’s degree from Texas Southern University and his doctorate in zoology from Michigan State University. He was appointed to the presidency of Mississippi Valley State College in 1971 and retired in 1981. With his wife, he moved to Hattiesburg and worked as an associate professor in biology at the University of Southern Mississippi before retiring in 1988. He worked as a program coordinator and a counselor at Forrest General’s Pine Grove Recovery Center in Hattiesburg, retiring in 1998 and continuing to volunteer.

He was a member of numerous civic, community and professional organizations, including Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. and the Mississippi Center for Legal Services Board of Directors.

Mr. Boykins was a member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Beverly Boykins; one son, Darryl Boykins of Knoxville, Tenn.; three daughters, Rhea Allen of Dallas, Texas, Constance Rogers of Chula Vista, Calif., and Karen Cooper of Charlotte, N.C.; two brothers, Lonnie Boykins of Vicksburg and Danny Boykins of Indianapolis; two sisters, Cherrie B. McClelland of Vicksburg and Phoebe Boykins Dixon of Washington, D.C.; six grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.

A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1512 Main St. in Vicksburg. Burial will follow under the direction of Century Funeral Home of Hattiesburg. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 tonight at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 900 Dabbs St. in Hattiesburg, with Rosary at 7 p.m.

Memorials may be made to the Mississippi Valley State University Boykins Scholarship, MVSU, 14000 U.S. 82 West, Itta Bena, MS 38941.