Martha Elizabeth Boyd

After celebrating 97 fruitful years of life as a faithful Christian, on November 8, 2024, Martha Elizabeth (Snyder) Boyd joined all the saints in heaven worshipping God and celebrating Christ's victory over sin and death. A wife, mother, employee and farmer, Martha leaves a legacy. Everyone who knew her misses her quiet, gentle spirit; we all look forward to being reunited with her in heaven.
Born in Paris, Missouri on July 7, 1927, Martha spent her early childhood years in Missouri. As a youth, she moved to Canton, Mississippi with her parents, Clayton and Minnie, and her brother, George. As a teenager, she lived with her Uncle Howard and Aunt Velma Snyder, her younger brother, Bennie, and her cousins, Howard and Jean. Despite challenges and hardships, including the death of Bennie in 1945, Martha persevered and graduated from Canton High School in 1946.
Martha had a knack for numbers and good head for business. After graduating from high school, she took a college accounting class and worked as a bookkeeper, clerk and salesperson at several different Canton businesses including the Myer's Hardware, Barnett Phillips Lumber Co., May's Food Market and the Federal Compress.
In 1963, Martha met the love of her life, Ulric Gilbert Boyd, while working in Myer's Hardware. Ulric spotted Martha walking around the Canton Square and found out where she worked. The next day, he went to the hardware store and, after purchasing some merchandise, got up his courage and asked Martha to the picture show - their first date!
Martha married Ulric on May 18, 1963 at the home of Martha's brother, George, in Canton, Mississippi. During their 59 years of marriage, Martha and Ulric developed a deep and abiding love for one another and produced three beautiful children: Dr. Chris Gilbert Boyd, Elizabeth (Boyd) Chenevert and Anna Rose (Boyd) Metcalfe.
Throughout her life, Martha was an active member of her local church. Her ancestors founded the Concord Presbyterian Church near Pickens, Mississippi and the First Presbyterian Church in Canton. In her early years, she worshipped at the Concord Presbyterian Church. As an adult, she and Ulric were active members of the First Presbyterian Church of Canton where she served in a variety of roles including the Treasurer of the "Kitchen" Sunday School class. Martha loved the Lord and prayed continually for her family, friends, church leaders and neighbors. She read her Bible daily and encouraged those around her to love the Lord and grow in faith.
Martha welcomed all people into her humble home and shared a meal or cup of tea with visitors and guests throughout her life. She was generous and shared whatever she had with those around her. She put the needs of her family and friends ahead of her own needs.
Martha instilled in her children and those around her a love of learning. She believed that you were never too old to learn. In her sixties, Martha learned to play the piano, operate a computer, drive a car and quilt. Martha volunteered with Sister Geneva's Literacy Program for more than a decade teaching both children and adults how to read. Martha enjoyed cooking and always experimented with cookbook recipes. She had a real talent for transforming leftovers into a new, tasty meal. Martha delighted in dancing; she and her sweetheart, Ulric, danced regularly to the delight of both family and friends.
Never idle, later in life, Martha worked for older couples, widows and local businesses to help them with their housekeeping. Throughout the years, Martha visited and cared for church members and neighbors who were sick and home-bound. She took care of her mother, Minnie, for many years while Minnie lived in a nursing home.
An industrious couple, Martha's and Ulric's market garden supplied a variety of fresh vegetables for the family, neighbors and numerous customers in and around Canton for several decades. Each year, Martha worked the phones during harvest season to ensure that their fresh vegetables found a home. Martha preserved bushels of green beans, okra, corn, tomatoes, peaches, plums and other produce. Martha was especially proud of how much she gathered from her garden and the amount she was able to put up to enjoy later. Drawing from her pantry and freezer, Martha and her family enjoyed delicious, home-grown produce throughout the year.
Martha is survived by her children and grandchildren: Dr. Chris and Mary Frances Boyd of Brookhaven, MS and their children McLain and Mary Elizabeth; Donald and Elizabeth Chenevert, Jr. of Springfield, MO and their children Donald James Chenevert, III, Sarah Elizabeth Chenevert, Olivia Rose Chenevert and William Ulric Chenevert; and Mac and Anna Rose Metcalfe of Natchez, MS and their daughter Lacey Anne. She is also survived by her sister, Sue Snyder Hawkins. Martha was preceded in death by her husband, Ulric Gilbert Boyd (October 31, 1929 - November 16, 2022), her parents, Clayton Snyder (1887-1964) and Minnie Randel Snyder Sheppard (1909-1997) and her younger brothers, George Howard Snyder (1930-2004), Bennie Randel Snyder (1933-1945) and Jimmie Dick Snyder (1936-2021).
Martha's funeral service will be held on November 23, 2024 at the First Presbyterian Church in Canton, MS. Visitation will begin at noon; the funeral service will begin at 1:00 pm. Afterwards, a brief graveside service and burial will take place at the Concord Presbyterian Cemetery in Pickens, MS.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully suggests memorial contributions for Martha's granddaughter serving in Nairobi, Kenya as a Christian missionary teacher. Please mail a check to NICS/OASIS, Finance Department, 3790 Goodman Road, Southaven, MS 38672. Please write the number "004349" in the check memo line. Or send donations to the First Presbyterian Church, 202 East Peace Street, Canton, MS 39046.
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Martha Elizabeth (Snyder) Boyd, please visit our floral store.