Kay Ferguson Boyd

Kay Ferguson Boyd died at her residence in Albany, Ga., on Oct. 6, 2025. She was 89. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Oct. 9 at Mathews Funeral Home in Albany, with the chapel open at 1 p.m. for visitation. Interment will follow at DeSoto Church Cemetery in DeSoto, Ga.

Kay was born the eldest of four children on Nov. 3, 1935, in Rebecca, Ga., to John Ed Ferguson Jr. and Elizabeth Suggs Ferguson. She grew up in DeSoto, Ga., and as a girl served as a page for her grandfather, Rep. John Ed Ferguson Sr., in the Georgia State Legislature. After graduating from Union High School in nearby Leslie, Ga., she attended Valdosta State College in Valdosta, Ga., where she studied education, and was a member of Fins and Flippers synchronized swim team. While in college, she met and married Oscar Boyd, Jr., and began a life that took her around the USA, and beyond. Accompanying Oscar during his career in the paper mill industry, Kay made homes in Alabama, South Carolina, Maine, Washington state, Louisiana, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, giving birth to and raising three daughters along the way. She went with Oscar during his brief posting in New Zealand, and they traveled on holiday to Switzerland and England, In later years, the couple returned to Louisiana, Alabama, and finally Georgia, making a full circle.

In 1985, while living in Monroe, La., Kay returned to school and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education from Northeast Louisiana University. She worked as a teacher for several years before the couple moved back to Georgia.

Kay was a long-time member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, and was active in chapters everywhere she lived; she was also passionate about bridge, and she and Oscar played regularly as a team. She and Oscar moved to Columbus, Ga., where he retired, and where they were active members of Britt David Baptist Church.

After the deaths of her husband and their youngest daughter, Kay returned to Sumter County to be nearer to her family, and lived in Albany until her death.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar Boyd Jr., and their daughter, Linda Boyd; as well as by her sister, Jean Ferguson Deriso, and her parents.

Kay is survived by her daughters: Pam Brownlee (Steve) of Mandeville, La.; and Lisa Underwood (Bill) of Leesburg, Ga.; and grandchildren Morgan Brownlee, Gillian Brownlee and Alex Underwood; as well as by her sister, Mary Ferguson of Leesburg, Ga.; and brother, John Ed Ferguson of Albany, Ga.

Also surviving are Kay’s nephews: Hunter Hodges (Jana) of Albany, Ga., and Stuart Hodges (Lori) of Tallahassee, Fla.; great-nieces and nephews Holly Hodges, Marlo Hodges, Mason Hodges, and Hunter Hodges Jr.; and sister-in-law Norma Boyd Phillips of Ohio.

Kay’s family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Viva Senior Living in Albany, Ga.; Georgia Hospice Care; and to caregivers Joan Johnson, Kiomi Crowley, Nyla Frost, Shatelle Shorter and Patricia Harvey, who worked tirelessly and with kindness and love to ease Kay through her final days.

Pallbearers will be Gillian Brownlee, Alex Underwood, Hunter Hodges, Stuart Hodges, Hunter Hodges Jr, and Ryan Shrewsbury.