Dorothy and Doris Boyette at Georgia State Womans College
Doris Boyett, of Ray City, GA at Georgia State Womans College, Valdosta, GA
Dorothy Boyett, of Ray City, GA at Georgia State Womans College, Valdosta, GA. 1945
In 1944, Doris Boyette was a senior at GSWC and her younger sister, Dorothy “Dot” Boyette was a freshman. Doris was born 27 Oct 1923; Dot was born May 14, 1926. The girls grew up just east of Ray City, GA, in the adjacent portion of Lanier County. Their parents were Eddie D. Boyette and Mattie Deen Boyette.
At GSWC, Doris was living in Ashley Hall, a dormitory for sophomores; her roommate was Clare Carson, who was president of the sophomore class.
October 4, 1944 GSWC Campus Canopy mentions petite blond Doris Boyette, of Ray City, GA
Among the Boyette’s 1945 classmates was Carolyn DeVane, also of Ray City, GA. There have been many other Ray City women of G.S.W.C. over the years.
Ashley Hall, Georgia State Womans College, Valdosta, GA 1845
The girls’ activities in 1944-45 included the Polio Drive, scrap paper salvage, planting the Camellia Trail, and dancing with those men from Moody Airfield. The May 9, 1944 edition of the Campus Canopy student newspaper reported. “It’s boy trouble for Dot Boyette…which of the four do you intend dating Sunday night, Dot? – Gee, we wish we could get one date. ”
1945 women of GSWC at Saturday night dance with the men from Moody Airfield.
The October 4, 1944 school newspaper reported:
“There they were, standing all alone just waiting for us to ask them to dance…Men, men and more men and not one of them had a chance.
To quote one Freshman, Ann Maddox, “It was wonderful just to look at a man.”
The dance was swell, but that familiar tap on another’s shoulder could mean one of two things…height of ecstasy or depths of despair…’til the next girl broke. This from Lawanda McCellar, as if she were just tearing herself away from it all.
“Course I wished my fella had been there,” sighed Mary Tharpe, but what chance would I have had with him if he had been.”
Annes Jean NeSmith summed it all up in a few words…”Plenty of men, good dancers, nice plausible lines, and I can hardly wait ’til next Saturday night.”
“I’m still overcome by the sight of those men, to express an honest opinion.” says Betsy Markert still in a daze.
“All in all the opinion of Converse is that it was wonderful and everybody had a good time, but give us men. We see women all week, is the general idea.
Favorable opinions were not limited to the college girls though. Several of the Moody Field boys were carefully eavesdropped on. Result: “I just can’t believe it, so many girls. If I were to write my mother and say 15 girls cut in on me she would say I was crazy drunk, or lying.”
The hit songs those college girls were swooning to in 1944-45? The Campus Canopy mentioned:
- You’ve Got Me Where You Want Me – Curt Massey
- Just a Baby’s Pray at Twilight”\
- Rock a bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody – Judy Garland
- I Don’t Care Who Knows It – Vivian Blaine
- I’m Homesick – That’s All – Gene Howard with Stan Kenton and his Orchestra
- Cry and you Cry Alone Rita Hayworth
- A Shy Guy – Nat King Cole
- A Stroll in the Park One Day
- No Can Do – Guy Lombardo
- Shame Shame on You” – Tex Williams with the Spade Cooley Western Orchestra
- Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well – Wynonie Harris
- Lady Be Good – Harry James
- Some Sunday Morning – Alexis Smith
- Sentimental Journey – Doris Day
- Open the Door – Bill Samuels and the Cats ‘n Jammer Three
- Gotta Be This Or That – Benny Goodman
- Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe – Judy Garland and the Merry Macs
- Chattanooga Choo Choo – Glenn Miller Orchestra
- Its Been A Long Long Time – Kitty Kallen with the Harry James Orchestra
- I’d Do It All Over Again – Cass Daley
- Don’t Ever Change – Don Brown
- Always – Sammy Kaye
In 1945, Dorothy Boyett was elected treasurer of the Baptist Student Union. In the Winter Quarter, 1945 Dorothy “Dot” Boyette was elected to the Sophomore Council. “Members of the house council check lights, cards and attend the simple cases of Student Government violation. They are elected at the beginning of each quarter to serve a term of three months.” Dot Boyett also served on the advertising staff and the business staff of the Campus Canopy.
By late 1945 Dorothy Boyette left Georgia State Womans College and was working in Brunswick, GA.
Dot married Charles Gordon Howell. He was a grandson of Caswell Howell, pioneer settler and one of the first ministers of the First Baptist Church of Milltown (now Lakeland), GA. Dot and Charles raised crops and children in Lakeland, GA. Their son, Charles Howell, Jr. became Chief of Pediatric Surgery at the Medical College of Georgia. Their grandson, Charles Howell III, is a professional golfer. Dorothy Boyette died June 2,1985. Interment was at Lakeland City Cemetery, Lakeland, GA.
Doris Boyette married John Sears and moved to Atlanta, GA.
Obituary of Doris Boyette Sears
Doris Boyett Sears age 87, of Atlanta, GA, passed on Sunday, June 26, 2011. She was predeceased by her husband, John Sears, daughter, Susan Elaine Sears, sisters, Irene B. Smith and Dorothy B. Howell. She is survived by her daughter, Pamela McKinney of Lawrenceville, sister, Louise Davidson of Bonaire, GA, brother, Earl Boyett of Lakeland, GA. 2 grandchildren, Robert Morris and Jennifer Shelton, 4 great grandchildren, Kayla Shelton, Savannah Shelton, Avri Shelton and Joshua Morris, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and extended family also survive. Mrs. Sears was a charter member of the Johns Creek Baptist Church, a member of the Senior Choir, a Food Pantry Volunteer and an avid Gardner. A Funeral Service to Celebrate the Life of Mrs. Sears will be at 3:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 30, 2011 at Wages Lawrenceville Chapel. Interment will follow in the White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Duluth.
Ray City History Blog 