The huge family of friends and relatives of Florence “Flo” Davis Boyd is mourning the loss of a community mentor who will be remembered for her tireless efforts to help others through her life of volunteer work.
Boyd, a longtime McComb resident, died Aug. 18, 2016, at Aston Court after a lengthy illness. She was 76.
Among her passions in life was helping the less fortunate and those with physical and mental disabilities. She taught hundreds of people to swim during her work with the McComb Junior Auxiliary’s Camp Sunshine and in the days when the Lions Club operated the city pool in McComb.
“Flo was instrumental in the swimming program at Camp Sunshine,” said Betsy Murrell, who has directed the camp for several years. “I can’t even guess the number of people that she taught to swim, but she taught hundreds of people who would never have had the opportunity to learn.”
During her years of illness and declining health, Boyd always found the strength and will to go to the summer camp. This year was the exception.
“Until this year, she was there, under a tent, but still helping,” said her longtime friend, Janet Stewart, who has helped with the camp since its beginning.
In the early days of Camp Sunshine, which is held each summer at Percy Quin State Park, swimming was in Lake Tangipahoa.
It was Flo Boyd who spearheaded the fundraiser for a pool specially designed for people with special needs.
“She was very connected with all the campers, but she had a special bond with those in wheelchairs and gave them extra swimming sessions,” Stewart said. “We will miss her. She taught me a lot about people with needs, not just with special needs, but with her giving heart and will to go above and beyond.”
Stewart said she was among the many people whom Flo Boyd helped nurture a giving heart.
“She made sure I knew how to serve people,” Stewart said. “She thought of others and was so kind to everyone. She was also strong and courageous.”
Flo also thought being involved politically was a personal calling. To that end, she was a charter member and past chairman of the Pike County Republican Party.
“She set many policies that we continue to follow today,” said current party chairman Bobby McDaniel. “She was a mentor to me and up until recently I would quite often call Flo to get my answers on political questions. She continued to be active, even though her body was struggling to make the meetings.”
Joe Nosef, chairman of the Mississippi Republican Party, was one of several prominent GOP members who remembered Flo's work.
"Flo Boyd was one of the early pioneers of the modern-day Mississippi Republican Party," Nosef said. "For decades, Flo was the backbone of the party in southwest Mississippi. She was also a stalwart leader of the party on a statewide level, with her many years of service on the State Executive Committee. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Flo's family and friends during this difficult time."
Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann also remembered his friend.
"Twenty-five years ago, I first had the privilege of meeting Flo. I immediately knew every Republican who ever wanted support in Pike County needed to start with Flo," Hosemann said. "Her leadership, citizenship and devotion to her fellow citizens, young and old, will survive in all of us. Lynn and I miss her and pray for her family."
And U.S. Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi, had this to say:
"Flo Boyd was a dear friend and someone who loved her family, her community, and her country. She helped shape many young lives through her tireless community volunteering and her love for others," Harper said. "She encouraged all us to help make Mississippi an even better place to live and to raise our families. Flo will be truly missed by those who were fortunate enough to know her and work with her."
Flo also was well known for her work with the American Red Cross and taught CPR, lifeguard training and swimming through the organization.
She earned a Certificate of Merit from the Red Cross after helping save her daughter Brandy’s life in an apartment fire in 1994. Tragically, family friend Katie Moore did not make it out of the fire.
It was a huge loss, but it didn’t deter Flo from continuing her service efforts.
Some 35 years ago, she launched an annual Christmas party for underprivileged children at J.J. White Memorial Presbyterian Church, and she continued it throughout the years.
She found needy students through local schools and made sure every child got gifts and families received Christmas dinner.
“Brandy is going to continue it as Flo’s Angels,” Stewart said. “When we told Flo, she got really excited about it. Flo’s Angels will do other things to carry on her legacy.”
One of the beneficiaries of Flo’s love for others is Warren Ellis Gilmore, who had polio and scoliosis as a child. His friendship with Flo was at a time when people with disabilities were not in the mainstream of society.
“She meant so much to me because when I was young it was before the days of society accepting kids with disabilities into the mainstream,” Gilmore said. “She was there to include us, and the love she gave us helped make us a productive part of society. She brought us out of the shadows and into the light.
“She gave me confidence to come forward. Not only that, she gave us the insight to give back to others. If you look at anybody who’s life she touched, she had a way of bringing you into to what she did,” Gilmore said. “You absolutely could not say no to Flo. The world is going to miss her, this city and county will miss her, and especially kids with disabilities and special needs.”
Stewart agrees.
“Flo never met a stranger. It didn’t matter,” she said. “She always found something else we could do to help people. She was just an angel on earth and left us huge, huge shoes to fill. If I’ve learning anything, it’s that if we could be like Flo was to other people, we wouldn’t have any problems.”
Jones Family Funeral Services of McComb is in charge of funeral arrangements for Mrs. Boyd, and services are tentatively scheduled for next week.
