Jack Emerson Buttram

Jack Buttram, beloved husband to Barbara and father of five children, fifteen grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren, passed into the presence of his Lord on Jan 1, 2017 after an extended illness. A public affairs consultant, broadcaster and writer who worked in Washington, DC and South Carolina, he was CEO (retired) of Jack E. Buttram Company and a fervent supporter of numerous Christian ministries and missionaries. He loved his family well, was a steadfast friend and continually sought by word and deed to encourage all who knew him to follow Christ without reserve.

Jack Emerson Buttram was born on January 31, 1932 in Roanoke, VA to Guy Wilson and Willie (Burdette) Buttram and is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara Merle (Emery) Buttram, sons Kerry Guy Buttram (and wife Cynthia), Kim Russell Buttram (and wife Linda), and Kevin Robert Buttram (and wife Janice); daughters Kristana Marie Buttram Harding (and husband Bob) and Kyle Joy Buttram. He is also survived by his brotherJimmy Wilson Buttram (and wife Suzie) of Villamont Virginia. A graduate of Montvale (VA) High School, he attended Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC, graduating in 1953 with a BA in Radio Production. He then worked at radio station WMUU (1953-1963) before moving to Spartanburg, SC to become Director of Public Relations for Spartanburg Development Association. After joining Milliken & Co., he was assigned by Roger Milliken to the National Goldwater for President Committee becoming Deputy Director of Public Relations travelling the country with the campaign. After relocating to Northern Virginia he served as Press Secretary for Senator Strom Thurmond, US Senate, SC (1965-1967); then with the Public Affairs Department, US Chamber of Commerce (1967-1968); and later with Senator Paul Fannin, US Senate, AZ (1968-1970). He became an account executive with Hill & Knowlton Public Relations, GM (George Murphy) Washington Consultants, as well as Wagner & Baroody on the AEI account in the early ‘70s and was Special White House Assistant to Mrs. Ann Armstrong, a cabinet-level presidential advisor (1973-1975). In 1975 he established a public affairs consulting firm with offices in Washington, DC and Greenville, SC. Upon returning to SC he became involved with the Republican Party at local and state levels helping to establish the SC Republican Presidential Primary as an important destination for candidates. After the de-recognition of the Republic of China (Taiwan) by President Jimmy Carter in 1978, his firm’s client, The Friends of Free China, became an important means of continuing the historic friendship between the people of the US and people of the Republic of China in Taiwan.

He often spoke of God’s kindness to him, not because he deserved it but because of God’s amazing grace to an undeserving sinner. This perspective was informed by his yearly habit of reading through the entire Bible. As a long-time member of Hampton Park Baptist Church, he served as a Sunday School teacher, as a Deacon and as an officer of Men for Missions. He was active in the Greenville (SC) North Camp of the Gideons International and testified that it was through the witness of a faithful Gideon who came to his high school he came to personal faith in Jesus Christ. He enthusiastically served on the boards of McLean (VA) Bible Church, Washington Bible College, Bob Jones University, The Wilds Christian Association, Miracle Hill Ministries, Biblical Ministries Worldwide and Aviation Radio Missionary Service (ARMS), an organization he helped found. His love for literature, writing and acting extended for much of his life. Some acting performances are on film (Unusual Films, Harvest Productions and others) and some are voice characterizations (Patch the Pirate). His dramatic scripts for CBS Radio and the radio broadcast “Unshackled” also reflected these gifts. In 1982 he produced two documentary films, China’s Pearl of Freedom; and China Tomorrow, which won an award in the New York Film Festival. In 2005 he began a daily radio news commentary Just A Minute which was carried on several stations. He was a keen amateur radio operator (N4ZHK) and aviator (instrument, multiengine, commercial) and loved flying the Rockwell Aero Commander 500B (N354MA). His greatest ambition for everyone whether family, friend or stranger was that all would know the love of Christ and experience His salvation.

A family committal service occurred on January 4 at the Woodlawn Memorial Park. A Memorial service will be held at Hampton Park Baptist Church on Saturday, January 14 at 2:00 PM. Visitation with the family will begin at 12:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Gideons International or Miracle Hill Ministries.