Maxine Atherton Boyd, 98 years and 7 months, slipped quietly away in her sleep, mid-morning, Friday, 25 November 2022 at the home of her daughter in Louisville. Always known as Mackey, Aunt Mac, daughter, sister, cousin, Mom, Mamma, Grandmother, Ma, and mother-in-law. Maxine was born the eighth of eight children born to Lon & Stella Atherton in Utica, KY in April 1924. As sole survivor, she became the Matriarch of the “Atherton Clan” for 24 years.
She was predeceased by her parents; Roxanna, her infant first-born (1943); siblings, Forrest, Mattie, Ida Belle, Leslie, Mary, Carrie, and Jimmy. Mackey was also predeceased by her second daughter, Patsy; stepdaughter, Rhonda; a great-grandson, Ry; and her spouse, Earl.
Mackey is survived by a daughter, Joy, grandchildren, Jesse (Beth), Terry, Baron (Tessy), Demetria (Jack), & Kyle; great-grandchildren, Jared, Macy (Craig), Conner and Monica; four great-great-grandsons, Joseph, Easton, Grayson, and JaeMin’. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, a god-daughter, Donna; a god-granddaughter, Cara; and her favorite caregiver, Luce.
From a hilltop in Buel, Mackey walked to her one-room schoolhouse, Little Grove, grades first through eighth. Then, Calhoun for high school until she dropped out at 17 years old. She completed her GED in 1975. It was a wonderful evening for her to attend her 50th high school reunion with her graduating class.
Mackey made her career at General Electric on the tube line from 1948-1986, part of five decades. Walking many blocks in the rain and snow prompted her to get her driver’s license at age 32. Thank you to Gwen & Patricia for teaching her. She drove for over 50 years.
Maxine was a worker and a talker. She took over cleaning, cooking, drawing water from a well 60 yards away (carrying two buckets at a time) at age 9 when her momma fell down the hill and broke both arms. She was an accomplished seamstress, making prom and wedding gowns. She made many of her own patterns to use on her feed sack dresses. She made toddler tuxedos with cumberbunds for great-grandsons and myriad outfits from newborn to toddler. Mackey loved to can every summer, anything produce she would try, even watermelon rind preserves. She loved to cook, bake, and a household favorite was pulling taffy by hand, out in the cold just before Christmas. She loved to travel by plane or car, and bus trips with her church Senior Adult Group. She loved nature’s gifts. She could grow anything with a teaspoon of water and an inch of dirt. Actually, Mackey loved doing anything that involved people, especially having coffee. One of her favorite sayings is “the only thing better than a cup of coffee is a second cup of coffee,” quoting her own momma.
A few things Maxine did after age 90 and widowed, was attend choir with her daughter for 16 months, she loved it. She attended her first collegiate softball game (UK v U of L), and her first and last R-rated movie (American Sniper), because her daughter, a veteran, was determined to see it; her only R-rated movie, also.
The most important thing in Mackey’s life was her personal profession in Jesus Christ as a young child. She read her Bible daily. She loved her church, she loved, loved revivals inside or outside in a tent. She loved gospel music, she loved to sing, often awakened me on Saturday mornings singing ‘It is No Secret,’ she believed it/lived it until Alzheimers took her mind. Her spiritual experience began at home with a Bible-reading momma and as an infant at Pleasant Hope General Baptist Church in Buel. Throughout life, her favorite scripture was Psalms 19:14. In 1948, she moved her membership to Hall Street Baptist Church in Owensboro, where it remained until HSBC was dissolved, four or five years ago. For many years, Maxine taught Sunday School for 6 year-old girls, then 2 year-old nursery for 20 years.
Mackey was a proud, voracious reader and as her momma did, she passed a love of books down for five living generations, She would always say we had six generations of voracious readers (including her momma); but, only ever five living generations.
Funeral services will be held at noon CST on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at Pleasant Hope General Baptist Church, 178 Pleasant Hope Church Lane, Buel/Calhoun off U.S. Highway 431 S. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hope General Baptist Church Cemetery. Visitation is from 3 to 7 p.m. CST on Friday at James H. Davis Funeral Home and Crematory, 3009 Frederica Street, Owensboro and from 11 a.m. until the time of service on Saturday at Pleasant Hope General Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donors may give in Mackey’s name to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), 1 Billy Graham Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28217, Pleasant Hope General Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 178 Pleasant Hope Church Lane, Calhoun, KY 42327 or Gideons International Louisville West Camp, 4309 Naneen Drive, Louisville, KY 40216.