Boyett, Robert Eli

Submitter: Susie Boyett Hodge

Robert Eli Boyett was born in Winnfield, La. November 5, 1892. The youngest son of J.W. Boyett and Cynthia (James) Boyett. Four brothers Horace L., Jasper, J. A., J. W. Boyett. Four sisters Emma Sanders, Martha Sanders, Minerva McKaskell, and Rhoda Moore.

May 31, 1918 he married Mae Louise Lussan of New Orleans, La. to which two sons were born James Robert and Dale William Boyett.

Robert Eli Boyett joined the Winn parish sheriff's department sometimes in the 1924 and was about to run for sheriff in 1926 to replace the retiring sheriff W.T. Heflin, when tragedy struck. On the 1st day in May, 1926 at the age of 33, Robert Eli Boyett was shot and killed by John E. Rayburn, a paroled convict from Leavenworth, Kansas. It happened at a boarding house on the corner of N. Grove St. and Broad St. Winnfield, La.

One of the largest funeral corteges ever held in Winn Parish was that that followed the remains of Robert (Bob) Boyett, that was buried in the old Winnfield Cemetery.

"A man of Bob Boyett's caliber can not be replaced and the community can best honor him by doing those things and perpetuating the principles for which he lived and died, and it is our duty to see the he did not die in vain. This is a quote taken from the Winnfield News American May 7, 1926.

May 3, 1926, Winnfield City Cemetery
Scanned image of newspaper article: "Fourth Grader Wins Top Honors with Report on Slain Deputy".
The fourth grader was Victoria Hodge gr-grandaughter of Robert E. Boyett