Frances and Russell: Valentines for life

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Feb. 14, 2003
The Boyettes walked down the aisle of East End Methodist Church 47 years ago today on Valentine's Day of 1956.
One reason Frances picked Feb. 14 for her wedding day was because it was the day after her fiance, Russell, was due on leave from the Navy.
The Boyettes said they may celebrate their 47th anniversary this year with a quiet meal out.
He said having their anniversary on Valentine's Day is similar to his birthday, which is on Dec. 30. He said his birthday, Christmas and New Year's are all lumped together.
Long marriage
The Boyettes said there is no secret to the longevity of their marriage.
The courtship for the Boyettes began in August 1954, when Russell, from North Carolina, was in Meridian visiting his sister. Frances was dating a friend of Russell's.
By April, the couple was engaged.
Frances said they didn't have a "real honeymoon" until some years later. After their wedding, they stayed in the home of Elsie McWilliams, sister-in-law and songwriting partner of the late Jimmie Rodgers.
McWilliams was a friend of Frances' family and a member of her church. On their last night together before Russell shipped out again, they stayed in Meridian's Lamar Hotel.
Frequent travelers
The Boyettes love to travel and they collect thimbles from wherever they visit. Many of them are on display in their home.
They still go to East End Methodist Church and they have two sons, Bobby, 42, who lives in Meridian, and Rusty, 45, who lives in Tampa. The Boyettes also have four grandchildren.
After 20 years in the Navy, working in communications on destroyers, aircraft carriers and various other ships, Russell retired in 1974.
When Russell retired from the Navy he immediately went to work for the U.S. Postal Service in Meridian. He retired from the post office in 1995, after serving most of those years as a window clerk.