Patricia C. Boyd

Patricia "Pat" Cowden Boyd joined the angels on Sunday, May 18th at the age of 90. Pat would cringe at the mention of her age, famously claiming, "age is only a number, and mine is unlisted."

Born on September 27, 1934, in Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Matthew James (MJ) Cowden and Mary McFadden, Patricia Anne Cowden grew up surrounded by the sweet aromas and delights of her father’s job at Hershey’s— while she was still young, her family moved down to Raleigh, NC.

Pat was a glamorous and multifaceted woman who wore many titles with warmth and grace. As the matriarch of her family, she held many roles throughout her life. In 1956, Pat was crowned Maid of Cotton in Memphis, Tennessee, famously planting a kiss on the cheek of Elvis before he walked on stage that night in one of the most iconic photographs imaginable. Their courtship ended there.

In 1958, while working as a model and actress in New York City, she traveled to Durham, North Carolina to promote a play. There she met Ty Boyd, who was emceeing the event. Pat and Ty had their first date on July 19th, 1959. After a brief courtship, Ty proposed. When Pat told the story, she loved to say that she never said “Yes”— but “When?” They married on October 18th, 1959.

With Ty, she began her greatest adventure: motherhood and entrepreneurship. Together, they raised six children in Charlotte. In 1980, Pat and Ty co-founded an executive coaching company- Ty Boyd Inc- and traveled the world teaching the art of communication. Among their many travels, Pat’s favorite were their African safaris—she developed a lifelong love for elephants, evident in the art that adorned their Charlotte home.

Pat was lovingly known as “Pat Pat” to her eleven grandchildren and “Gigi” to her two great-grandchildren. She and Ty loved hosting family gatherings and you could often find kids and grandkids at their home laughing and playing pool.

Pat is survived by her children Tempe, Mimi, Robert (Kate), Eliot (Kerry), and Molly (Jim); grandchildren Alexa, Eliza, Neil, Eliot, Miller, Charlie, Lindsey, Audrey, Cooper, Eleanor and Jameson; and great-grandchildren Belle and Tommy. She is reunited in Heaven with her husband Ty Boyd, who passed in 2020, and her eldest daughter Anne, who passed in 2017.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11am, Friday June 20th in St Gabriel's Catholic Church with Father Frank O'Rourke as celebrant. In lieu of flowers, please donate to St. Jude’s.