LESLIE R. BOYETTE SR.
Dec. 23, 1956 - April 11, 2007
Leslie Ray Boyette Sr., affectionately called "Ray", was born on Dec. 23, 1956, in Goldsboro, N.C. He was the son of the late Robert Lee Boyette and Julia Lee Boyette. He was married to Miriam P. Boyette of Durham, N.C., and from this union they were blessed with two wonderful sons, Leslie Ray Boyette Jr. and Robert Ray Boyette.
Funeral services were held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Greater Guiding Star United Holy Church, with pastor Joseph Williams officiating. Burial was in Elmwood Cemetery. Visitation was held Friday from 2 to 6:30 p.m. at McIntyre Funeral Home, with the family present to receive friends from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Ray graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1976 and upon graduation, he entered the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged.
On June 20, 1983, Ray joined the Goldsboro Fire Department, was promoted to engineer on Aug. 29, 1990 and to lieutenant on April 27, 1994. On Jan. 5, 2000, he was promoted to the new position of Assistant Chief of Support Services, where he worked from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to assist in the day-to-day administrative duties of the fire department. These duties included the care and upkeep of the five fire stations, the care and servicing of each station's fire trucks and all other equipment repairs as well. He was the department's United Way campaign leader, and in October during Fire Prevention Week, Assistant Chief Boyette coordinated fire prevention education with the area schools and day care centers by scheduling station tours along with the fire safety house. He served as a judge in the poster contest sponsored for the last three years by the Berkeley Mall where local students decorated posters using the annual fire prevention theme and he took time out of his schedule to tutor and read with students on a one-on-one basis. On Jan. 5, 2002, Assistant Chief Boyette was promoted to Asistant Chief/Operations of "C-Shift" where he served until his disability retirement. In this capacity, he directed all the firefighting activities of his shift of approximately 25 crew members. Chief Boyette had a big infectious laugh and several sayings -- one of which was "Hold It in the Road, Hold It in the Road, Chief."
Ray believed in God and family. He believed in putting God first, which he did. He loved his family and was an excellent provider and a source of strength. He did not believe in giving up and stressed to "always do your best, get organized and stay ahead of things and think ahead," which is what he lived by.
Ray departed this earthly walk of life on April 11, 2007, at Pitt County Memorial Hospital. His memory will be forever treasured by his loving wife, Miriam; sons, Ray Jr. and Robert Ray; his mother, Mrs. Julia Boyette; sisters, Brenda Mallory and husband, Robert, Joann Bizzell and husband, Larry, and Geraldine Boyette; stepbrother, Alphonzo Manley and wife, Rebecca; nieces and nephews, Rachel, Robert David, Hiza, Kin and wife, Patricia, Gino, Yuki, Jamela, Jelani, B.J. and Nita; and a host of aunts, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Arrangements were handled by Mcintyre Funeral Home Ministries, Goldsboro and condolences can be faxed to 731-4338 or emailed to [email protected].
Published in Obituaries on April 15, 2007 8:35 AM