Boyett Graves, 83, of Starkville, MS passed away Sunday, June 6, 2021 at his residence.

A memorial service will be Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Artesia Baptist Church with Jeff Morgan officiating.

A memorial service will also be Saturday, June 26th, 2021 at 1:00 PM at Wesley Chapel on Highway 892 near St. Joseph, LA.

Mr. Graves was born on October 20, 1937 in Start, LA to the late Wright Graves and Lois Ray Graves. Mr. Graves spent much of his life in service to his community and fellow man.  After receiving his master's in horticulture at LSU in 1965, he moved to Virginia to work at the Virginia Truck and Experimental Station near Exmore, Virginia where he spent sixteen years working on potato varieties.  He and his family moved to Beaumont, MS in 1981 to work for MAFES and Mississippi State University at the Beaumont Horticulture Unit for fifteen years.  He next worked until his retirement in 2001 at the Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station in Crystal Springs, MS.  Mr. Graves believed raising capable, confident young men was an important way to serve one's community.  A Boy Scout himself, he spent much of his free time working with young boys through Boy Scout Troop 140 in Richton, MS where he served as an assistant troop leader.  Later, he also served on the Eagle Scout committee for the Pine Burr Area Council in southern Mississippi. Mr. Graves spent his retirement years raising sweet corn, cantaloupes, and peaches and playing with his grandchildren in St. Joseph, LA and later in Starkville, MS.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Graves is preceded in death by his sisters- Della Graves and Minnie Jo Graves Moore.

Mr. Graves is survived by his wife of 55 years - Martha Stockstill Graves; son- Kenneth (Jessica) Graves; daughter- Elizabeth Graves; grandchildren- Bryar Graves and Brynlee Rose Graves; sisters - Connie (Ted) Moody, and Imogene Graves Hollis; and brother- Frankie (Glenda) Graves.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Wesley Chapel Fund C/O Lynn Stiles, 924 Hwy 604, St. Joseph, LA 71366