A celebration of his vibrant life will be held on Tuesday, November 15, at St. Richard Catholic Church in Jackson. The visitation is from 10 a.m. until noon with the funeral mass at noon.
Mike was joyfully welcomed into our lives in Jackson on March 8, 1995. He attended elementary school at St. Richard Catholic School and graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School in 2013, with many honors and awards. He was a three-time State 2A singles and doubles tennis champion at St. Joe, and an active member of the Bruins soccer and football teams, with whom he devoured pre-game dinners from CS’s.
Among his numerous interests, Mike was patriotic, and wanted to know every detail about how government worked. He served enthusiastically in Mississippi Youth Legislature, Leadership Jackson, and the American Legion Boys State. He also proudly served as a page in the Mississippi State Legislature for his great aunt, Rep. Rita Martinson and Governor Haley Barbour, and was an intern for U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker.
Mike served his Boy Scout Troop 1 at St. James Episcopal Church as troop chaplain. He earned and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He basked in the sun during summers as a lifeguard at River Hills Club during high school and during college, hated shucking oysters in Hattiesburg.
He attended Mississippi State University, Pearl River Community College and graduated in December 2017, in the snow, from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science in computer science.
He was a brilliant mind in the internet technology and computer industry in Kansas City, Missouri, remotely, and en-route for Austin, Texas. He treated his work as more than just a job and was generous in sharing his prolific knowledge with others.
Mike was a vivid gamer, foodie and sports fan, especially of Mississippi State football. He loved reading and his mind was like an encyclopedia. He could easily recite obscure facts about movies, sports, and history. As much as he collected countless details, he collected even more friends.
Mike traveled the world, visiting China, South Korea, Mexico, Japan, Italy, Canada, Spain, France, and Germany and many places in the United States including recent business trips to SpaceX.
He had a deep love for family and friends, and they returned it happily. He will always be remembered for that big, contagious laugh that friends say would make him easy to pick out in a crowd. He was also a talented artist, and the walls of his parents’ home are adorned with many of his original works.
Mike is survived by his loving parents, Pat and Nicki Boland of Jackson, and his sister, Mary Grace Boland of Jackson and Bordeaux, France, as well as countless aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and his dog Bowie. Honorary pallbearers are his team of closest friends. He is welcomed into heaven by his grandparents, Larry and Peggy Boland and Mike and Gloria Martinson, all of Jackson, and all the Saints that have gone before.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The Gleaners, 237 Briarwood Drive, Jackson, MS 39206; Boys and Girls Club of Central Mississippi, 1450 West Capitol Street, Jackson, MS 39203; or Soul City Church, 226 Whitfield Street, Jackson, MS 39202.
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