John E. Barbour, Sr.

John E. Barbour Sr. passed away peacefully Wednseday March 8, 2017 at the age of 86.

He was born on February 21, 1931 in Boston.  John was a devoted husband and father of six, married to his childhood sweetheart the late Marilyn Barbour for sixty years.  John was also an artist, illustrator, photographer, teacher, and an avid stamp collector.  He was born and raised in Boston and was first introduced to art at the Children’s Art Center in the South End.  While in High School, he participated in special art extension courses at the Massachusetts College of Art and the Museum School of Art.

During the sixties he worked as a photographer and cartoonist on the staff of the Boston Sun Newspaper.  A newspaper, dedicated to reporting on civil rights, school integration and community exploitation, and shedding light on the social and civil rights problems on the national level.

From 1960 through 1966, John was the art director at Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum at Regis College in Weston, Mass.  In 1962, he designed and installed the museums’ display at the Vatican Pavilion at the New York World’s Fair.

In 1970, he was commissioned to produce over 200 illustrations for a film on the history of Africa that was later shown on educational television.  He also taught courses in graphic design and production, as part of an adult career changing program.

John was a charter member, and past vice president of the Boston Afro-American Artist Association, on the board of S.P.A.C. E., an Arts Cultural organization and a member of the Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Association.  His work has been exhibited in many public group shows as has been displayed in public venues such as the Boston Public Library at Copley Square.  John’s works are also in private collections.

John continued to create artwork in his later years. In his spare time he enjoyed teaching chess and art to his grandchildren and passing on his words of wisdom and vast knowledge.

Son of the late Sarah Doley and John M. Barbour, the beloved husband of the late Marilyn “Betty” Barbour, devoted father of children Laura R. Dunkley and her two children Marilyn and Michael Jr.,  Steven M. Barbour his wife Cynthia and their three children Steven Jr., Justin and Ashley, Ellen E. Evans her husband Charles Evans and their son Zachary Evans, Shirley E. Barbour her children Christopher and Taylor and her wife Rachael Berry, and Charles M. Barbour and the late John E. Barbour Jr., his common law wife Regina Randolph, their children Aaron Barbour, his wife Auburnee, their three children Marquis, Aaron, and Alijah; and their son Andre Barbour, brother to the late Shirley Gulfield, and uncle to Kenneth, Donald, Walter, Eric and Cheryl Gulfield.

Funeral service in Dolan Funeral Home, 1140 Washington Street, DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS, Saturday, March 18 at 11 o’clock.  Visiting hour 10 – 11 am. Interment Mt Hope Cemetery, Boston.