Obituary of St Mary Boyd

St. Mary Boyd-Salters (known as Baby girl) was born in Augusta GA to the late Apos. A. E and St. M. Hankerson. The Hankerson family joined the United House of Prayer under Sweet Daddy Grace when St. Boyd was only six years of age. She traveled wherever Apos. Hankerson was directed to preach the gospel until she became an adult and settled in Boston when she was 18 years of age. She made sure all five of her children knew how to work in the House of Prayer, she brought them to Sunday school and every service throughout the day on Sunday as well as through the week. She was known as Ma Boyd or Aunt Mae Belle by most if not all of the young people who knew her. St. Boyd served with the McCollough Nurses, and lastly the Bailey Escorts where she was president for many years. Over the years she served as President of Presidents, Youth Dept President, Vice President of Presidents and other offices too numerous to list. She performed with the McCollough Voices, the Senior Choir and she was always willing to perform a solo or perform in the display. St. Boyd was also known as the cake lady as many of the youth would put in their requests for a birthday cake in their favorite flavors. Under Daddy McCollough, she and St. Eld Greer of Hartford CT was the first to pitch a tent on the yard during convocation to sell delicious soul food (chopped barbeque, fried fish, barbeque ribs, sausages, cakes and banana pudding); it wasn’t long before Boston pitched a larger tent and gave Jake’s trailer some stiff competition. After Retiring from Teradyne in the 2001, she began to work tirelessly in the kitchen serving the public during the week and during the weekends she could be found on the yard with St. L Thomas selling handmade crafts or baked goods; this didn’t stop when the location changed from 590 Shawmut Ave to 206 Seaver St. She worked with every auxiliary and every program making sure her name was added to the roll. She was present during the youth services to assist in any way she could, training the children to run the services. She loved attending Sunday School, bible study and anything to do with scriptures; she often said “I’m glad to know God’s word”, “Be mindful of what you say or do in the House of God”, or “Pay your tithes”. Even while hospitalized for eight months, St Boyd continued her works in the House of Prayer, sending her tithes and offerings, listening to recordings over the phone of both local and national services. While in the hospital she would break free from the pain and began to speak in unknown tongues, while praising God, the hospital staff rushed to try to find a translator; someone who understood what language she was speaking. But as she calmed down, she told the staff that she was talking to God. St. Boyd leaves behind Bro. Joe Salters (spouse), brothers Bro. William Hankerson and Eld Arthur Hankerson Jr. (Lyfae), her children Alvin Boyd, Joyce Tyrell, Doris Bonnie Boyd, Brian Boyd (Lydia) and Anthony Boyd (Lisa). Grandchildren: Nikisha McMillian (Antonio), Brian Stroud, Ian Boyd, Derrick Boyd (Rebecca), Candice Boyd, Shantelle Boyd, Quiandra Boyd, Brittany Boyd Boswell, Briana Boyd Boswell, Avery Garrison Boyd and Gabrielle Logan; Seven (7) great grandchildren and (1) great great grandchild, and a host of nieces, nephews, honorary family, friends, the Mighty Escorts and all the members of United House of Prayer – Boston, MA. St. Boyd was preceded in death by her parents Apostle & St Hankerson (Boston) & her sister St Mary Fields of Salisbury, MD.