Sarah Alma Boyd Townsend (1877 – 1978)

Alma Boyd Townsend grew up in Adairville, Kentucky and was one of six children of Elizabeth Francis Barker (1850 – 1888) and George Washington Boyd (1842 – 1915). Her mother died when she was just 11 and some of her siblings were sent to live with aunts and uncles. There is a sad story of her when she was near death and disoriented, pleading to “let the little ones stay with her, she could take care of them”. It was assumed she meant her little siblings. Because she was the oldest child, she stayed with her father in the family home. In 1907, at 30, she married Will Townsend, a widower who was 17 years older than her. At that time not marrying until thirty would have been old. Their first child, Mary Elizabeth (1908 – 1983), was born with in the year. Two more children, George Presley (1910 – 1965) and Maude Catharine “Teddy” (1914 – 2012) would follow. Alma soon found herself a widow after a tragic logging accident. She had been married just 12 years and had three small children aged 11, 9 and 4. She briefly moved from Arkansas where she and Will lived, to Louisville before moving to Russellville, Kentucky with her children. She got by and raised her children by sewing, teaching others to sew, serving as a housekeeper and growing her own vegetables. She was very active in her church and grew the grapes for communion.

Her youngest daughter Teddy lived with her until she married. After Teddy and family returned from being in Mexico, Alma spent most of her adult life with them but spent many summers with her daughter Ellizabeth Townsend Sanford’s family in Kentucky. Teddy’s family settled in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and then in Arlington, Virginia and consisted of four children and the parents. Alma was a much-loved member of the family and helped with the running of the household and especially enjoyed yardwork. She was surrounded by family and the many visitors that come to visit but she lived a somewhat solidary life – contrary to her earlier church involvement, she never went to church which had been a big part of her life; she never learned to drive; she didn’t stay up on current events and never voted; she didn’t go shopping - any of the normal things folks do. But she was an avid letter writer and cherished letters she received. Besides gardening and cooking, she made dozens of hooked rugs throughout her life. She lived to 101 and was active in yard work up into her late 90s.

Alma is buried in Berea Cemetery in Logan County, Kentucky.

Alma as a child	1960s	1970s	At 100^th birthday
1978 Obituary	Merit award	Alma, second from right	Edited transcription of a conversation with Cousin Jane

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