Brian Jennings Boggs
February 17, 1955 – April 21, 2022
People who knew and loved Brian will tell you that he was a gentle, kind, generous, and fun- loving man. His sense of humor and ability to make those around him feel as if they mattered made him easy to love.
People who worked with him would say those same qualities made him easy to respect.
He was the quintessential “good man.”
Brian was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and as his parents (Uell and Nina) moved to various places in the Midwest when he was a child, Brian got the opportunity to grow up and make many fond memories of an adventure- filled childhood. When the family finally settled in Alabama in 1965, there were three rapscallious boys (Gary, Brian and Hugh) and one precious girl (Beth). While he would continue to travel in and out of the United States, Alabama would always be his home.
When he was 23, Brian got the opportunity to perform in the play, Harvey, and was officially “bitten” by the theater bug, but soon found that he preferred working in the production part of the entertainment world. He began working at the Von Braun Center as a stagehand, rigger, and lighting/sound technician, and it was in the role of stage manager, for the play, Star Spangled Girl, that Brian met the love of his life, Martha.
They were married in 1984, and he continued to expand his interest and experience in the entertainment industry. The VBC allowed him to use his talents and wide knowledge of what all is involved in the production of any form of entertainment to find his niche as an Event Coordinator. Even after he retired after over 40 years, Brian could not fully walk away from that world, so he went back to his first love and worked part time as a Job Steward for events in the Mars Hall.
While he loved his job – and was certainly dedicated to the VBC – his priority and unwavering devotion was always to his family. He and Martha had two beautiful children – Melissa born in 1988 and Jonathon born in 1991. Brian always found a way to attend his children’s ball games and performances, and because Martha was a schoolteacher – and could not take off for field trips, Brian was able to bond with that part of his children’s lives as well. He even helped Martha teach their Sunday School classes. He was the one who taught Jon and Melissa how to drive, and if either of them ever had an “oops moment,” he was there to help get them back on track. Now, as adults, they both have followed in their father’s footsteps and work in the entertainment industry.
Brian’s love for his family was boundless. He adored his mother and respected his father. He opened his home to each of his siblings when they needed a place to live, and he would tell you that his best friend was his brother, Gary. Brian also loved Martha’s family. When her mother was bed bound, Brian drove Martha to Birmingham every weekend so that she could spend precious time with her mother and sister, and Martha’s mother thought he “hung the moon.” If Martha said she wanted to visit any of her dad’s family in Georgia, Brian would simply nod and say – “Ok, when do you want to go?”
If you ever talked with Brian for more than 5 minutes, you would learn that he enjoyed keeping up with the sports world and was a devoted fan of the Braves Baseball team, and Alabama football – Roll Tide. Brian was also a big reader. He loved science fiction but was open to any genre, and he helped instill a love of reading in his children by reading to them at bedtime. And of course, he loved music – he sang to the kids when they were babies, and he would sing along with Martha and the radio as they drove anywhere.
Brian loved the beach and the mountains. He could sit peacefully by the ocean and hike confidently through the woods. So many of his fondest memories were of his times camping with family and friends, and so we will celebrate his life and be grateful for having the time we had with him on Monte Sano Mountain. Anyone who knew and loved him is welcome to come. There, we can sing along to some of his favorite songs; look back at his life through all the pictures that have been taken; and share our favorite “Brian stories” that are sure to make us laugh and appreciate how very blessed we were to have known him.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE for Brian Jennings Boggs
Monte Sano Mountain – State Park
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Large Pavilion
12:00 Noon – Pot Luck Dinner and visit with the Family
1:00 pm – Celebration Ceremony
Folks can come as early as they wish and stay as late as they want –
Bring your own chair or blanket –
It’s a park and a celebration, so frisbees and pets are welcome!
