Dr. Miles Travis Boyd, Jr.
Dr. Miles Travis Boyd, Jr. shares the deeply personal story of losing his mother, Elizabeth Holmes,
in the September 11 attacks, and how grief, faith, and an extraordinary village helped carry him
toward healing, leadership, and purpose. His story is not only about loss. It is about what happens
when pain does not get the final word.
you have ever gone through is not always the end of your story. There is light at the end of the tunnel,
and sometimes that light comes through faith, community, and the people who refuse to let you fall.
The Media Hook
In the aftermath of 9/11, a young Harlem boy lost his mother and nearly lost his footing in the world.
What carried him forward was not denial or easy inspiration, but a powerful combination of faith,
discipline, and a super village committed to his survival and success. Today, that boy is Rev. Dr.
Miles Travis Boyd, Jr., a pastor, author, educator, and community builder who now helps others
find purpose after pain.
Why This Story Resonates
This story speaks to grief, resilience, Black family and church culture, mentorship, and the power of
legacy. It offers a meaningful conversation for audiences navigating loss, uncertainty, reinvention,
and the question of how to keep going after life has broken open in a way you never expected.
About Dr. Boyd
Rev. Dr. Miles Travis Boyd, Jr., a native of Harlem, New York, is the son of Miles Nelson Boyd, Sr.
and the late Elizabeth Holmes. Rooted in faith, education, and a passion for justice, Dr. Boyd has
dedicated his life to preaching the Gospel, empowering communities, and uplifting future generations.
He is a graduate of Virginia Union University and Drew University, and he is currently pursuing an
Executive MBA at Virginia Union University’s Sydney Lewis School of Business.
Over the years, Dr. Boyd has merged ministry, advocacy, and education through pastoral leadership,
nonprofit work, and fourteen years of service as an Advanced Placement educator, dean, and testing
coordinator in New York City schools. He now serves as the 5th Senior Pastor of Sharon Baptist Church
in the Bronx.
Credentials and Leadership
- B.A. in English, Virginia Union University
- Master of Divinity, Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University
- Doctor of Ministry in Public Theology and Social Justice, Drew University
- Executive MBA Candidate, Virginia Union University
- Senior Pastor, Sharon Baptist Church, Bronx, NY
- Fourteen years in education as an AP educator, dean, and testing coordinator
Foundations and Initiatives
- The Elizabeth Holmes Scholarship Foundation
- The Healing Experience
- M. Travis Boyd Ministries, Inc.
- The Harlem Ministers and Leadership Conference
- The Healing Experience NYC Ministry and Podcast
- Ongoing work focused on hope, healing, justice, and opportunity
Key Speaking Points
- How a child survives unthinkable grief when a village decides his future matters.
- Why the hardest season of your life does not have to become your permanent identity.
- The role faith played in helping him move from heartbreak to calling.
- How Black family, church culture, and community support can become a lifeline in crisis.
- What it means to carry a parent’s legacy forward through service, education, and leadership.
- Why testimony matters, and how sharing your story can become someone else’s survival guide.
- How pain can be transformed into purpose without pretending the loss did not hurt.
Suggested Interview Questions
About the Book
- What inspired you to write The Purse She Left Behind now?
- Why was it important for you to tell this story as both a son and a man of faith?
- What do you hope readers take away from your mother’s story and your own journey?
- What does the title The Purse She Left Behind symbolize to you beyond that moment itself?
About Grief, Faith, and the Village
- What did your support system do right that helped you survive such a devastating loss?
- How did your community help shape the man and leader you became?
- What would you say to someone who feels trapped in the worst season of their life?
- At what point did you begin to understand that your pain could become part of your purpose?
Ideal Topics for Interviews and Appearances
- Grief and healing after profound loss
- Faith in times of public tragedy and personal devastation
- The importance of mentorship, family, and community investment
- How Black communities build resilience through church, kinship, and service
- Legacy, leadership, and honoring a loved one through action
- Turning testimony into transformation for the next generation
Scripture anchor: “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” — Psalm 34:1