Milford Boyett, 93, of Fernandina Beach, passed away peacefully Sunday, May 7, 2017, in the loving care of the Warner Center For Caring in Fernandina Beach.
A native of Blackshear, Ga., he was the son of James Lester and Alma Carrie Boyett. Following his youthful days in school and on the family farm, Milford enlisted in the Navy and served in both the European and Pacific theaters during World War II. He was awarded a Commemorative Medal from the Russian Federation for his services in the Navy Armed Guard for ferrying relief supplies to Murmansk, Russia, for the beleaguered Russian front. He made several other North Atlantic crossings with the Armed Guard on similar missions and participated in D-Day, landing infantry troops on Utah Beach.
During the war, he married his wartime sweetheart, the former Nella Faye Kirkland of Waycross, Ga., at The First Church of the Nazarene of Waycross. After a short duration in Jacksonville, the Boyetts moved to Fernandina in the early 1950s, where Mr. Boyett began his career with the Container Corporation of America.
A talented individual, Milford and his brother Winston were members of the Amelia Island Playboys, a country-western band that performed at local events, as well as live on Fernandina's WFBF radio. He was also a member of the Fernandina Beach Boat Club. A boat racer of considerable skill, he won several boating events in Fernandina Beach; St. Simons Island, Ga.; and Jekyll Island, Ga.
Mr. Boyett was a master carpenter, building the two homes in which he and Nella raised their children. He also built boats and traveling campers, with which he introduced his children to many exciting experiences. The summers were spent fishing and water skiing, as well as traveling far and wide, from Fernandina to Niagara Falls, to Newfoundland, Canada, and through the western deserts to California. Following his retirement, he and Nella continued their adventures, living on the road for weeks at a time.
Mr. Boyett was predeceased by his eldest daughter, Shirley Lynn Boyett; four brothers, Earl, Winston, Willis (Pap) and T.J. Boyett; and sisters, Juanita Lee and Moreta Lee.
He leaves behind his wife of 72 years, Nella Faye of Fernandina Beach; his eldest daughter's son, Seth Adam Boyett (Michelle) of Atlanta; daughter, Dee B. Stoudemire (Richard) of Jacksonville; son, Repperd Milford Boyett (Kathy) of Yulee; son, Herbert F. Boyett of Jacksonville; his daughter-in-law of 35 years, Mary Gwen Boyett of Hilton Head Island, S.C.; and granddaughter Jane Stoudemire of Charleston, S.C. His remaining siblings are Genoa Lee of Nicholls, Ga., Geneva Bacon of Jesup, Ga., Samuel Boyett of Blackshear, and James Lester Boyett of Boulogne.
Throughout his life, Mr. Boyett maintained his faith in his Lord, Jesus Christ, and professed and shared that faith with others.
The family wishes to thank those extended family members and friends who so lovingly made themselves available to help their "Uncle Milford" and "Aunt Nella" over the past several years.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 12, at Oxley-Heard. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard, with the Rev. Rick Lee and Dr. Larry Boyette officiating. Mr. Boyett will be laid to rest next to his daughter at Bosque Bello Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Warner Center For Caring at Community Hospice & Palliative Care Foundation, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257, or online at support.communityhospice.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors