Beauford O. Erwin

Erwin ~ Beauford O’Donald Erwin “BOE”, 78, was born October 19, 1946, in Charlotte, North Carolina to Calvin Erwin, Sr. and Blanche Marguerite Woods Erwin. He was the youngest of seven children, collectively and affectionately known as the “Magnificent Seven”. Beauford passed away peacefully on the evening of August 8, 2025, with his family by his side. 

Beauford was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where he enjoyed all that the city had to offer. He attended Edison High School where he played basketball. Beauford was an active young man spending his time in the company of his siblings and friends. He loved attending concerts at the Uptown Theater which featured the early performances of Diana Ross and the Supremes, Smokey Robinson, Jerry Butler and other musical greats. Philadelphia is also where he met his future wife, Barbara. Their union produced two children ~ Staci Denise and Nacole Sharice.  

He enlisted in the US Navy in 1964, during the Vietnam War era. Beauford began his career as an aircraft mechanic and loved all things aircraft but hated to fly. He had an amazing ability to tell what type of aircraft was flying overhead just by listening to the sound of the engine or by the shape of the wings. Beauford was deployed multiple times on the USS Saratoga and was assigned to multiple duty stations including NAS Lakehurst (NJ), NAS Millington (TN), NAS Oceana (VA), NAS Roosevelt Roads (Puerto Rico), NAS Cecil Field (FL), and finally, NAS Patuxent River (MD), where he ended his military career. Upon retirement from the Navy, he made his home in Jacksonville, Florida. Beauford made many lifelong friendships during his military career, some of those friends he grew to love as ‘brothers’.

Beauford had many interests and hobbies. He loved fast, pretty cars, military history, aircraft, card parties, dominos, and especially music. Over his lifetime, Beauford drove a vintage Porsche, several Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs, and his beloved Corvettes. His favorite ‘Vette was his canary yellow Corvette.  He loved to sport it around town and often drove it in local parades. Beauford could play a mean game of spades and reveled in ‘talkin’ trash’ while slamming dominoes on the table. He loved nearly all genres of music and took over the family linen closet when he built a small recording studio inside. His amazing house parties were known by many, filled with the sounds of Motown and an eclectic collection of Jazz.

He loved the energy of childhood. Beauford was a true ‘kid’s dad’, often bringing home the latest candy treats or new toys. For him, the more unusual or novel it was, the better. His idea was that childhood should be fun and full of laughter. He spent many hours in amusement parks with his girls. Beauford was a loving grandfather to his two grandchildren, Natalie (22) and Joseph (19), and happily served as a surrogate grandfather to many others. 

Beauford was preceded in death by his parents, Calvin Sr. and Blanche; brothers, David Sr. and Calvin Jr.; sisters, the twins, Dorothy and Delores. Here, now, to cherish his memory are his children, Staci Erwin and Nacole (Kojo) Erwin-Inkumsah; grandchildren, Natalie and Joseph; sisters, Loretta Kilgore, Patricia West; mother of his children and former wife, Barbara; numerous uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. His contagious laugh, witty humor, and love of life will be missed and forever held in their hearts. 

Celebration of Life service for Beauford O’Donald Erwin will be 11:00AM Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at Woodlawn Presbyterian Church USA, 3026 Woodlawn Road.  Visitation Monday from 5 – 7:00 PM at The Soutel Chapel.  Interment in Jacksonville National Cemetery. Because of the love of his family, arrangements entrusted to J. E. Fralin & Sons Funeral & Cremation Services, 5065 Soutel Drive, 904-924-9400

The Family respectfully request that in lieu of flowers, please donate to the American Heart Association in the memory of Beauford O. Erwin

http://www.heart.org

Donations have made possible a 13.6% reduction in deaths caused by stroke since 2018

*American Heart Association Website

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