A memorial for John Bartley Boykin Washington, DC, Death John Bartley Boykin, 32, of Washington, D.C., died suddenly on Saturday, March 9, 2024. John Bartley (JB) was a beloved son, brother, grandson, uncle, cousin, and friend to a great number of people. While attending the University of Mississippi, he received many honors, including the Chancellor’s awards. At Ole Miss, he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and held many leadership positions there.
Deeply ingrained connections, they helped him mature as a person, hone his leadership skills, and create an amazing nationwide network of Sigma Chi pals. He realized that he will always be buddies with his Sigma Chi comrades. They were closely fraternal. These connections were crucial to the beginning and development of his profession.
John Bartley began working for Senator Thad Cochran in Washington, D.C., after graduating. This place taught him a lot about the federal government. After his time in Washington, DC, JB went back to Mississippi and worked closely with Governor Phil Bryant. He thus developed a strong interest in Mississippi’s international contacts and commerce. During this time, his political fervor intensified and he came to the realization that defending Mississippi would require a lifetime of work.
John Bartley worked with Herschel Walker as his U.S. Senate campaign field director. Following that, he went back to Washington, DC, to work for Senator Ted Cruz as a Senior Advisor for banking, finance, business development, and taxes. John Bartley just moved from Washington, DC to Bethesda, Maryland, to assume a new position as Director of Public Affairs and Advocacy Strategies at Gunster Strategies Worldwide.
John Bartley had a contagious joy for life. People were attracted to him because of his Southern hospitality and his good looks and height. He was a wonderful lover who helped and inspired a large number of people. Among other things, he was very passionate about God, his family, and his friends. He was the head of state from Washington, DC, and loved politics, but his real joy came from being at home with his family, watching Ole Miss sports, playing games with his nephews, and hanging out in the grove.
Along with his mother, Leslie Gilmore Purvis (Jay), surviving family members include his grandmother, Gail Griffin Gilmore, brother, Brett Chapman Boykin (Katie), uncle, Dr. David Gilmore (Mary), cousins, Marshall Gilmore (Mary), Mary Katherine DeBardelebon (Alex), and Laura Beth Gilmore, as well as numerous other friends and extended family members.
John Bartley Boykin’s memorial service will be held at First Christian Church – Meridian on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. under the direction of Dr. Mark Benson. Friends are invited to visit the family at the church between 10:00 and 10:45 a.m. prior to the memorial ceremony. The family will have a private committal funeral at Magnolia Cemetery. Having Robert Barham Family Funeral Home take care of the preparations is an honor. Instead of sending flowers in memory of John Bartley Boykin, the family prefers contributions be sent to the Sigma Chi Memorial Scholarship at 406 University Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655.
