Clifton Boynes Sr

Clifton "Ashley" Boynes Sr. (March 18, 1943 - December 15, 2025) was a U.S. Virgin Islands boat captain, ferry operator, veteran, and businessman whose life and work were closely tied to inter-island marine transportation, especially between St. Thomas and St. John. Over several decades, he became a well-known figure in the local boating community and played a role in the development of ferry services in the territory. Early life and education Boynes was born in Road Town, Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands. He grew up in Fresh Pond in the West End, raised largely by his mother, Vashti Parson, along with relatives who were involved in seafaring. His early exposure to maritime life would later shape his career.

In the mid-1950s, his family moved to St. Thomas. He attended Charlotte Amalie High School and graduated in 1962. The case eventually reached the U.S. Court of Appeals for Third Circuit. Although the case drew attention at the time, Boynes was acquitted in 1999 of the oil-dumping charge.

He was also involved in later civil disputes related to Transportation Services of St. John, Inc. Court records show disagreements over company ownership, shares, and governance that continued into the early 2020s.

Family life Boynes married his high school sweetheart, Lydia Harrigan, in 1966. They raised a family rooted in both St. Thomas and St. John, including Clifton Ashley Jr. and Lori Michelle Boynes.