Biography: John Clayton Randolph, 62 of New Orleans, Louisiana died September 23, 2022, after a swift and courageous battle with brain cancer. Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas on March 17, 1960, he grew up in Little Rock, the son of Robert M. Randolph, Sr., and Phyllis Isom (Raney). Upon graduation as valedictorian from Pulaski Academy in 1978, he attended Vanderbilt University and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1982 as a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society and Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He attended medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and graduated from the University of Arkansas School of Law in 1987 while serving as Editor-in-Chief for the UALR Law Journal. Upon graduation he began his law career with Friday Eldredge and Clark where he practiced corporate and securities law. He retired as a partner in 1999 to attend the A.B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University on full scholarship.  He graduated with his master’s in business administration in 2001 as a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and the recipient of the peer-awarded Roger Cornelius Award recognizing the highest standards of business scholarship and leadership.  

From 2000 through 2002 he was employed as Legal Counsel for Entergy Corporation.  In 2002 he joined UBS Financial Services as a Financial Advisor and in 2007 joined J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. as a Vice-President and Investor. From 2012 through 2017 he was Director of the Master of Finance program at Tulane’s Freeman School of Business and from 2017 through June of 2022 he served as Chief Administrative Officer at the Louisiana Veterans Research and Education Corporation.

He was a parishioner of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in New Orleans and a member of the Krewe of Tucks.  Clay was a true gentleman and friends will attest to his sharp wit, unwavering political opinions, and appreciation of  New Orleans culture and cuisine.  He is survived by his brother Bob and his wife Eleanor, his niece Elizabeth “Lilly” Watson and Edward J. Peters and his wife Wava of Terry, Mississippi.

A visitation will be held from five-thirty to six-thirty p.m. on Thursday, September 29 followed by a Rosary at Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, 1003 N. Tyler Street, Little Rock. Obsequies will be held Friday at ten-thirty a.m. at Our Lady of the Holy Souls.  A celebration of Clay’s life will be held in New Orleans at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Our Lady of the Holy Souls Catholic Church. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com