Cleveland's 89th Street to be Renamed
William Boyd Sr. Way
What an honor it would be to have a street named after
you! What do you think it would take, what kind of service
and commitment to your community would be required to cause such a
thing? Look to William F. Boyd Sr. of E. F. Boyd & Son
Funeral Home for an example, as Cleveland, Ohio's 89th
street will soon be renamed William Boyd Sr. Way.
If you're not familiar
with E. F. Boyd Funeral Home or Mr. Boyd, you may have a lot of
questions right now. For example, why 89th
street? Since 1938, the main headquarters of E. F. Boyd &
Son (which now includes three funeral homes) has been located at
2165 East 89th Street in Cleveland. At this
location alone, hundreds of families have found solace, and have
had the opportunity to grieve and mourn in their own uniquely
personal ways.
William F. Boyd Sr. is Chairman of the Board, as well as the
"son" in E. F. Boyd & Son. He worked alongside his
father, Elmer F. Boyd who founded the business in 1905, until his
passing in 1944. Still a family business, the staff now
includes a fourth generation of Boyd's! And, although Mr.
Boyd is well into his nineties, he is still only
semi-retired. After working with the same families for
generations, he simply cannot walk away from the business and break
the bonds he has built over the years.
While running a successful Cleveland, Ohio business, Mr. Boyd
still found time to be actively involved in the growth and
strengthening of his community. For more than seventy years
he has been a member of Antioch Baptist Church, supporting and
being supported by his church family.
A lifetime member of the NAACP (National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People), in 1959 Mr. Boyd chaired the first
Freedom Fund Dinner of the Cleveland Chapter. Shortly after
that, he became involved in the Cleveland Board of Education,
eventually serving as vice president for a time. Through
these organizations he was able to reach many different groups and
demographics within his community. He led by example, showing
young people the importance of education, and what could be
achieved through hard work and dedication. His father had
been an excellent example to him, and Mr. Boyd made sure to live
the legacy, passing those lessons on to his own children, as well
as friends, neighbors, and each person who saw him become a
community leader.
When you think about it, William Boyd Sr. Way is the perfect
name. Not just because of the street's location, but because
of the man for whom it is named. William Boyd Sr. Way is more
than a road, a thoroughfare that takes you from point A to point
B. It's The William Boyd Sr. Way-a way of living life to its
fullest potential, of committing yourself to serving your community
both through local organizations, as well as through a business
that offers support to local individuals and families.
Dedication Ceremony
Thursday, June 21
11:00am
E.F. Boyd & Son Funeral Home
2165 E 89th Street
Visit www.EFBoyd.com to
learn more about Mr. William F. Boyd Sr. and E. F. Boyd & Son
Funeral Home. If you're interest in pre-planning or other
funeral related services, you can find information online or call
them at 216.791.0770 to schedule an appointment to visit their East
89th Street main location, soon to sitting on William
Boyd Sr. Way!