RALEIGH — A graduate of East Bladen High School has achieved a lifetime dream.

Lt. Col. Michael A. Boykin, a member of the old East Bladen’s 1989 class, took the oath of office and was sworn in as an attornrey on May 10 by Judge Michael R. Morgan of the state Supreme Court. His wife, Sherri Jackson Boykin, held the family Bible upon which is hand was placed during the ceremomy.

Boykin joined the Army National Guard in Clinton prior to graduating from East Bladen. He served in the 30th Infantry Brigade, and graduated from N.C. State in May 1995 with a degree in political science and concentration in criminal justice.

He served as a logistic officer with the 30th in 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom. After returning in 2005, he began work toward a master’s in business administration, which he received from Strayer University in 2008.

He was deployed a second time in 2011, to Kuwait with the 113th Sustainment Brigade from Greensboro. In 2013, he returned to a position at N.C. State and began work toward entering law school.

In May 2018, he graduated from both of N.C. Central’s School of Law and School of Library and Information Sciences. He passed the bar in February.

Boykin is the son of Alberta and Jimmy Ray Johnson and the late Leroy J. Boykin of Cypress Creek. He is a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves with 30 years service as a citizen-soldier. He’s employed at UNC Chapel Hill as a business analyst.

He plans to focus on helping disabled veterans with disability claims, estate planning and legal consulting for his law practice.

Contributed photo
Michael Boykin is with Justice Michael R. Morgan of the state Supreme Court, and Alberta and Jimmy Ray Johnson following his oath of office ceremony.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_michael-boykin-3-060419.jpegContributed photo
Michael Boykin is with Justice Michael R. Morgan of the state Supreme Court, and Alberta and Jimmy Ray Johnson following his oath of office ceremony.

Contributed photo
Lt. Col. Michael Boykin and wife Sherri Jackson Boykin share a moment at the Wake County Courthouse during Boykin’s oath of office ceremony.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_michael-boykin-2-060419.jpegContributed photo
Lt. Col. Michael Boykin and wife Sherri Jackson Boykin share a moment at the Wake County Courthouse during Boykin’s oath of office ceremony.

Contributed photo
Lt. Col. Michael Boykin, with wife Sherri Jackson Boykin holding a family Bible, is sworn in as an attorney by state Supreme Court Judge Michael R. Morgan.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_michael-boykin-1-060419.jpgContributed photo
Lt. Col. Michael Boykin, with wife Sherri Jackson Boykin holding a family Bible, is sworn in as an attorney by state Supreme Court Judge Michael R. Morgan.

Bladen Journal