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Biography

Sister Boyd came to Iowa as a new bride, faithfully following her husband. She followed him into the church where he had been sent by his Army chaplain. Since then they both have taken on many roles in the now 75 year old church. She is a mother, grandmother, and devoted Christian.

Transcript

Date of Interview: 26 March 2008

Chaunica Clark: Hello. My name is Chaunica Clark and today I will be interviewing Sister Paula Boyd.

Sister Paula Boyd: Praise the Lord.

Chaunica: Can you give you full name please?

Paula Boyd: Yes, my name is Sister Paula Boyd.

Chaunica: How old were you when you went to PCG [Pentecostal Church of God] ?

Paula Boyd: I came to this area forty-four years ago. I was just a new bride. I was twenty years old when I came to Pentecostal Church of God when they were on 6th Street. So I’ve been here a long time.

Chaunica: And what or who brought you?

Paula Boyd: My husband Bill Boyd. I was a new bride when I came to this area. I had just got married and my husband was a member here at the church. And so I came with my husband.

Chaunica: How long was your husband in the church?

Paula Boyd: My husband was here before I got here. So I really don’t know just for sure because he was in the military. And when he was discharged, Bishop Davis, the pastor in Leavenworth, Kansas, told my husband to get under Bishop Boyd. And Bishop Boyd took him under his wings, and because we have the same name Boyd, he chose us as his adopted children.

Chaunica: Thank you. How old was he when he first started coming and what position did he hold?

Paula Boyd: My husband, I believe was 24 years old, at the time. And he came to the church and he worked in many positions. He was also a Deacon here at the church, a head trustee, he was an usher president. He held many roles.

Chaunica: Thank you. How old were you when you got baptized and saved?

Paula Boyd: I was at the age of fifteen, just a young girl. I really got saved because everybody else was getting baptized. So I really didn’t know what I was really getting into. But once I got baptized and I let the Holy Ghost and the Lord came into my life, I began to become a new person in Christ.

Chaunica: Thank you. Do you hold any positions in the church now?

Paula Boyd: Yes, I do. I am the singles president. I am an assistant administer to the Sunday School department. I’m a choir member, a faithful choir member. Down through the years I can say I’ve been faithful to the choir. I was an usher, usher president at one time and also an usher. Also started the Pastor’s Aide for Bishop Alfred Boyd at the time, when he was alive. So I hold many roles.

Chaunica: Thank you. Do you have any children or grandchildren? And how many?

Paula Boyd: Yes, I have five beautiful grandchildren. I am pretty proud to be a grandmother. Because I count it an honor and I just count it a blessing to be a grandmother.

Chaunica: Can you tell me of some of the memories of the pastor Bishop Boyd?

Paula Boyd: Yes. When I first met Bishop Boyd, I thought he was mean. I, and we used to tease him, you know, but Bishop Boyd was, I said he was a teddy bear. You know, he could look mean and act mean but there was times that he was really a sweet person. He used to call me his ugly duckling. And I used to get offended at that. And he would say, “But you’re a special ugly duckling." And so down through the years we had a very good relationship, Sister Boyd, Bishop Boyd, and his children, because I became a part of their family.

Chaunica: Thank you. What is your favorite thing to do in the church?

Paula Boyd: My favorite thing in the church is singing in the choir. I like singing for the Lord. I like singing because it’s a ministry. And when I sing I feel that we’re encouraging people. There might be somebody that comes to church that day that might be discouraged, maybe that one song will touch them. So I think I have to say choir.

Chaunica: Thank you. Right here we have our 75th Church Anniversary book. Would you please explain some of the pictures here?

Paula Boyd: Yes. I’m on the page where my family here; we’re all celebrating the 75th. I’d just like to read this little commentary. And I put all these different songs in here. And it says, “Down through the years God’s been good to me. That’s why I count my blessings. And I name them one by one, ’cause I come this far by faith. Leaning on the Lord. For the Lord has never failed me yet. Maybe I failed Him, but He’s never failed me yet.”

Chaunica: Thank you, for sharing your time.

Paula Boyd: You’re blessed; thank you.
[Shows pictures from anniversary book.]

Chaunica: Thank you.

Paula Boyd: You’re welcome.