The Van Buren County Board of Commissioners has honored a South Haven woman as she nears her 100th birthday.
Speaking to the board this week, Commissioner Gail Patterson Gladney said she was taught Sunday school by 99-year-old Mother Bessie Maxine Dye Boyd. Boyd was born on September 14, 1925 in Texas and moved to South Haven in the 1940s. In 1947, she joined Emmanuel Community Church, where she served as a clerk and mentored youth.
Gladney said Boyd has led a distinguished life in South Haven.
“In 1952, Mother Bessie was one of the first three African American clerks hired by the G .C. Murphy Company in South Haven, serving with distinction for 34 years and earning multiple honors, including corporate recognition and commemorative service awards,” Gladney said.
Gladney said Boyd was a volunteer for seniors and was ordained as a deacon in 2008. Gladney read the resolution saluting her.
“The Van Buren County Board of Commissioners, on this 26th day of August 2025, hereby extends its heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Mother Bessie Maxine Dye Boyd on her 100th birthday.”
The board’s resolution says Boyd “stands as a living testament to resilience, service, and faith.” It adds she leaves a “lasting legacy within her family, church, and community.”
