Church mourns loss of its pastor, wife

AUSTIN (KXAN) - An Austin religious community on Wednesday was mourning the loss of their pastor and his wife, described by friends as loving and inseparable.

"Frick and frack,” said Max Smith, an elder at Dayspring Fellowship . “They were two peas out of the same pod."

Ernest Jackson Boyett Jr., Dayspring's pastor, and his wife, Barbara, died in a car crash Tuesday night. They were both 64.

• Related: Wreck claims lives of pastor, wife

A Toyota SUV was traveling west on U.S. Highway 290 near Baxter Lane when it crossed the center line and hit the Boyetts' Honda van head-on. The SUV was driven by 40-year-old paramedic Terri Elmore. She was in the hospital listed in fair condition.

Now the community is coming together to celebrate the Boyetts lives.

The church Pastor Ernest Jackson Boyett, Jr. or "Jackson" as he was known by his church community started Dayspring Fellowship more than three decades ago at the urging of friends.

"As they were studying together, he had a very great feel for the word of God,” Smith said. “He’s a very excellent speaker. His degree is in English."

In fact, many of Boyett's sermons were shared online. The latest one is from last Sunday.

The Boyetts’ ties to Austin run deep.

“He had a lot of roots here,” said Smith. “His dad was actually the secretary to the Governor back in the 1940s.”

Both graduated from the University of Texas in the 1960s. Jackson Boyett graduated from Austin Presbyterian Seminary in 1976. He was also a disc jockey and talk show host for KIXL in the mid-1970s. During that same time, the couple managed a home for unwed mothers in Austin for several years, according to Smith.

"Frick and frack,” said Smith. “They were two peas out of the same pod."

They would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary in a week.

"Her one wish was that neither one would go first and either one would have to live without the other one," said Smith.

Smith says church members must push forward.

"We don’t know what the Lord has for us," said Smith.

The congregation will meet Wednesday to mourn the Boyetts and offer support at 6:30 p.m. at the Dayspring Chapel, at 5500 Avenue G.