Mary Boykin of Robertsdale celebrated her 100th birthday April 15, and more than 100 people, including Mayor Charles Murphy, came to Robertsdale Healthcare on Highway 90 to give her hugs and wish her a happy birthday.

Murphy issued a proclamation in Mary's honor, declaring it “Mary Boykin Day” and recognizing the centenarian for her many years of civic service with organizations like the Lions Club and the American Legion Auxiliary.

But most who attended — including many of Mary's 10 children, 30 grandchildren, 51 great-grandchildren, 44 great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild — were there to honor the legendary matriarch of their family and reflect on the impact she has had in their lives.

“She's been a blessing to all of us,” said Delores Krchak, one of Mary's daughters. “She has always been a loving mother, and she was always there for us. She took care of us kids and anybody else that stopped by — she never turned anyone away from our home.”

Born Mary Penterelli on April 15, 1913, the Daphne native was raised on a farm, where she remembers milking cows by hand in the wee hours of the morning.

“We got up early because you've got to get them cows tended to and milked,” Mary said.

Theresa Smith, another of Mary's daughters, said her mother passed on this skill to her girls — on the Boykin farm, the boys fed the hogs and goats, while the girls handled the milking and butter churning.

“I could walk under the cow when I first started milking,” Theresa said. “We'd squirt milk at one another, and I remember squirting milk in the cats' mouths.”

Mary and her husband Glen, who died in 1984, raised all of their children to be hard workers. Farm life wasn't easy, but the children left home with a solid work ethic, Theresa said.

“(Our childhood) must have shaped us pretty good, because we all turned out OK,” Theresa said. “None of us are afraid of work, that's for sure.”

Delores remembers her mother's daily routine: working in the fields all day just as hard as a man, making supper for the children and finally going out into the yard and participating in a game of softball, a family favorite.

“She has always been the hardest woman,” Delores said. “She worked hard, played hard and prayed hard.”

Mary's son, Gabriel Boykin, said in her prime, his mother could yell so loud, her voice carried at least three miles.

“The boys on the bus would always ask us after the weekend, 'What kind of trouble did Emanuel (another son) get into? We could hear your momma calling him all the way in Loxley,'” Gabriel said. “She probably just needed him to do something for her. And when she called, you'd better come.”

During her child-rearing years, Mary developed excellent skills in the kitchen. Her children especially rave about her cornbread and biscuits. Gabriel said boys at school would trade whole sandwiches for one of his mother's biscuits during lunch.

All of Mary's children share a specific memory about their mother's bread.

“We rode the bus, and it put us off on the west side of the railroad track,” Delores said. “And when the bus driver opened the doors, we could smell when she made bread, and we'd race each other home to get the end piece.”

Mary didn't believe in wasting anything — leftover bread dough was used to make biscuits, old milk turned into delicious cheese and flour sacks were crafted into handmade shirts for the boys and dresses for the girls.

“The sacks that were white were for the boys' shirts, and the ones with flowers on them, she'd make into dresses for the girls,” Gabriel said.

Somehow in the midst of all of her responsibilities at home, Mary managed to be a PTA president, a leader in the home demonstration club, a devout attendee of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and a tireless volunteer for all kinds of community causes.

After her children were grown, she increased her volunteerism, receiving many awards for her service, including an award for outstanding volunteer service from the American Legion Auxiliary, an award of appreciation from the Lions Club, the Spirit of Baldwin County Award, the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce's Service Award and an award of appreciation from the City of Daphne. She was also named the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce's Woman of the Year in 1981.

“She didn't just work for this vicinity of Robertsdale,” Delores said. “She worked for all of Baldwin County, and she was recognized by all of them.”

There is no way to know how many lives Mary Boykin has touched — whether directly, through her child-rearing or her hospitality, or indirectly, through her community service — but the turnout at her 100th birthday party suggests the number is much higher than she could have ever imagined.

Note: This article will appear in print in the April 23 edition of the Baldwin People section.