Ms. Mary Lou Boyd was born on Oct. 2, 1930, in Parksley, to the late Henry S. Finney and Nellie Watkinson Finney.
In 1948, she graduated from Accomac High School in Accomac and attended Mary Washington College.
After receiving her bachelor’s degree in sociology, Ms. Boyd began teaching at the high school level. Following 10 years in education, she and her family moved to Kent Island in 1965, residing in Stevensville.
In 1969 the Chesterwye Center was organized, and she became the first executive director. After 28 years of dedicated service, she retired in 1996. During her tenure she oversaw significant expansion of the services offered by the center and two moves, ultimately leading the effort to build the current facility in Grasonville. Her legacy is sealed in the “Boyd Home,” a residential home for Chesterwye clients.
In retirement Ms. Boyd was an active volunteer for Chesterwye Center and served on the board of directors for eight years. In later retirement she volunteered for METAvivor Research and Support managing correspondence. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crafts, especially with her grandchildren.
Her children and grandchildren were her world. She was a dedicated and loving mother and grandmother who, in all 95 of her years, never missed a family birthday, graduation, or holiday celebration. She often marked these occasions by reading poems she had authored to commemorate the milestone. These poems became cherished family keepsakes.
In recent years she became skilled at texting and FaceTime, often making lists of what was happening in her grandchildren’s lives to discuss on their calls.
Ms. Boyd is survived by two daughters, Elizabeth Tawil (Jack), of Arnold, Md., and Kelly Lange (Mike), of Annapolis, Md.; one son, John Boyd (Meg), of Elkridge, Md.; and four granddaughters, Mollie Boyd, Anna Boyd, Helena Tawil, and Allison Boyd.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Chesterwye Center, https://chesterwye.org/giving/
