Elizabeth Thomas Boyd

ELIZABETH THOMAS BOYD, age 94; Public Viewing on Monday, June 23rd from 5 - 8 pm at Watson's Funeral Home, 10913 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, OH. Services on Tuesday, June 24th at 11 am at Shiloh Baptist Church, 5500 Scovill Ave, Cleveland, OH with visitation at 10:00 am. Elizabeth Thomas Boyd was born January 15, 1920 in Abbeville, South Carolina. She was called from labor to reward on June 15, 2014. She was the fifth of eleven children born to the late Rev. James B. and Addie Hunter Thomas. At the age of three, her family relocated to Youngstown, Ohio. Elizabeth graduated from Rayen High School January 27, 1939 and then moved to Cleveland. She initially worked as a domestic and later gained employment in the steel mills. On January 19, 1946, she married Clarence Richard Boyd and to this union three children were born, Ronald Douglas, Michael Gregory, and Carol Elizabeth. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Clarence, son Ronald, and siblings Louis, Helen, William, Ida Belle, Madelle, and Louise. Mrs. Boyd accepted Christ as a child. The Boyd family centered their lives around their faith in God and family. The Boyds were active members of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church beginning in the 1950's and later united with Shiloh Baptist Church in August 1973. Mrs. Boyd continued as a deaconess, having served as an officer and member of the National Baptist Deacon's Convention on the national and local level for 30+ years. Her personal ministry was visiting sick and shut-in church members. Mrs. Boyd placed a high value on education. She was active in the PTA and sacrificed to take her children to cultural and educational events. Their most memorable family vacations were to the New York (1964) and Montreal (1967) Worlds Fairs, which exposed them to a world beyond their Glenville neighborhood. In the 1970's, she began taking college level courses to demonstrate that a college education was attainable. Mrs. Boyd was extremely industrious and creative. She made ribbon flower corsages for special occasions for many Cleveland churches and weddings. The entire family sold these flowers on St. Clair and 105th Street on Mother's Day to provide for the children's college education. Mrs. Boyd was also very well known for sewing very fashionable outfits (suits, coats, dresses, etc.), with large matching hats, which she created. Mrs. Boyd's extensive travels took her to Asia, Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In the United States she traveled to Hawaii, California, Florida, South Carolina (family reunion), the Grand Canyon, and various locations for the Deacon's convention. A much anticipated trip to the Holy Land was cancelled because of safety concerns. Mrs. Boyd retired November 1, 1987 from the Cleveland Public Schools after working in cafeteria services for 20 years at Parkwood Elementary and East High Schools. She served her community in retirement by checking on senior citizens, working at the polls on Election Day, and caring for foster children. Mrs. Boyd moved to Sunrise of Wilmington, a senior living community in Wilmington, DE in 2005 to be close to her daughter as her memory continued to decline. She approached dementia with dignity, grace, and humor, thanking God for each day. Mrs. Boyd leaves to cherish her memory, a son, Michael G. and wife Judith of Cincinnati, OH, one daughter, Carol B. Amos and husband Alvin of Hockessin, DE; granddaughter Moriah G. Boyd of Cincinnati, OH; siblings Hattie McCollum, Lily Cleggett, James B. Thomas II (Betty), and Gladys Pippens; sister-in-law E. Beatrice Doxie; many nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends.