Jean Bulette Boggs

Jean Casterton Bulette Boggs, 94, died September 12, 2017 at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. She was born on April 27, 1923, in York, PA. She was the daughter of Ruth Casterton and Warren Clifton Bulette. She was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Lawrence K. Boggs, MD who died in 1997 after a battle with cancer. She leaves behind a legacy of love of family, history, travel, genealogy, her church as well as community and civic service.

Mrs. Boggs is survived by twin sons, David Casterton Boggs and his wife Abigail of Charlotte, and the Reverend Randall Bulette Boggs of Mills River, NC; one daughter, Elizabeth Boggs McLean and her husband Joseph P. McLean of Florence, SC; five grandsons: Hunter and Morrow Boggs and Will, David, and Joe McLean; a brother, Warren Clifton Bulette, Jr. and his wife Katherine of York, PA; and a niece, Elizabeth Bulette Dormitzer of Frederick, MD.

She graduated from The College of William and Mary where she earned a B.A. degree. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She was elected to Kappa Delta Pi, an honorary education society, and also to Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Chapter.

Following her graduation from college, Mrs. Boggs entered a career in the publishing industry. She held positions as a staff writer for The Saturday Evening Post and then as an assistant editor of Holiday Magazine.

In 1949, she and Dr. Boggs were married. They lived in Germany for two years while Dr. Boggs served in the Army. Their twin sons were born in Germany. In 1953, Dr. and Mrs. Boggs moved to Charlotte where their daughter was born.

After settling in Charlotte, Mrs. Boggs became a volunteer community leader. She served as section leader of the United Way and on the Board of Directors of the Presbyterian Hospital Auxiliary and as treasurer of the Mecklenburg Medical Auxiliary. She was a member of the Myers Park Home Owners Association and the Residence Committee of the YWCA. She was president of the Opera Guild Debutante Club, benefiting the Charlotte Opera. While serving as chairman of North Carolina’s Culture Week, Mrs. Boggs was recognized in the 7th edition of Who’s Who of American Women.

She was room mother at her children’s schools and active in the PTA. She served as a trustee on the council of Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA, and on the Board of Visitors of Davidson College. She was a charter member of Davidson’s classical music station WDAV and served ten years on that board.

Mrs. Boggs was instrumental in the restoration of Latta Plantation, the early 19thcentury home of James Latta in North Mecklenburg County. She served 13 years as president of the Latta Plantation Board and in 1987 was named President Emerita. As president, she oversaw restoration and furnishing of the house and re-creation of a living farm of the early 1800’s. The Jean Boggs Heritage Center, the visitor and orientation center at Latta Plantation was named and dedicated in her honor in 2000.

Mrs. Boggs served as vice president of both The Friends of the Archives in North Carolina and The NC Society for the Preservation of Antiquity (now called Preservation North Carolina), which in 2008 awarded her the Gertrude S. Carraway Award of Merit, which annually honors individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to historic preservation. She was also given an award for preservation volunteerism in 1987 by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission. Mrs. Boggs was a former Regent of the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence Chapter of DAR, which in 2004 awarded her the national DAR’s medal for Women in History and in 2012 the new national DAR’s medal for Historic Preservation.

Dr. and Mrs. Boggs were world travelers and over the years they visited more than 130 countries and all seven continents. After Dr. Boggs’ death, her son Randall was her faithful travel companion.

Her interest in genealogy led to annual trips to London and East Anglia, where she traced and documented her family lines back to the 17th century. She became acquainted with and often visited the present day owners of four of her ancestral homes.

Mrs. Boggs was elected and ordained as an elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church. She was also president of the Women of the Church, was named Life Member of Presbyterian Women, and was vice president of the executive board of Sharon Towers.

A gracious hostess, Mrs. Boggs maintained her home in Myers Park for more than 50 years, and with the help of her longtime housekeeper, Mary Blackmon, she hosted many gatherings of family and friends, as well as church and cultural groups. She was a member of the Charlotte Country Club, Clubs of America, The Mint Museum of Art, The Levine Museum of the New South, Historic Rosedale Plantation, National Trust, Colonial Williamsburg, Mecklenburg Historical Association, Friends of the Archives and Preservation North Carolina.

A memorial service with a visitation following will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church on October 10, 2017 at 2:00 pm with Reverend Dr. Bob Henderson officiating.

Memorials may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church, 1000 East Morehead St., Charlotte, NC 28204; Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Rd., Huntersville, NC 28078; or a charity of one’s choice.