Carolyn S. Buford

To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1). A TIME TO BE BORN: Carolyn S. Buford was born on October 18, 1953 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She departed this earthly life on Friday, July 3, 2020 in Warner Robins, Georgia.

A TIME TO LOVE: Carolyn loved her family deeply. The joy of her life was the birth of her boys, Justin, Brian, and Brandon Buford. There was a special love for the gift of her grandson, Camden Buford. She adored her husband Jerome Buford who spoiled her to no limits. Carolyn also possessed a special spark for love and compassion for her mother, Annie, who taught Carolyn her hard work ethic and how to be a good example to her family. Finally, Carolyn had a love beyond compare for her sorority sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated as well as her many friends.

A TIME TO BUILD UP: Carolyn graduated from City High School in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1971. She attended Middle Tennessee State University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Home Economics and Business in 1975. She was also the second African American cheerleader at MTSU. Her passion for education and love of fashion led to additional degrees to include an Associate of Arts from Bauder Fashion College in 1976, a Certification in Early Childhood Education from Fort Valley State University in 1991, a Master of Science in Early Childhood Education from Fort Valley State University in 1993, and an Educational Specialist in Administration and Supervision from Lincoln Memorial University. She worked for the Houston County Board of Education for 24 years, retiring as the Assistant Principal of Shirley Hills Elementary School in 2015. Carolyn was a Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She was a charter member of the Iota Tau Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. at MTSU as well as a charter member of the Warner Robins Alumnae Chapter. She served on various committees to include Adopt A School, Membership, Relay for Life, and Scholarship. She enjoyed mentoring and growing Deltas and served as co-chair of the “My Sister’s Keeper” mentoring program. Her absolute passion was the annual Scholarship Gala. In addition to securing several sponsorships and often selling the most tickets to the event, she ensured this major fundraiser was an evening of elegance for the Middle Georgia community. Due to her leadership and dedication, the scholarship gala has raised over $200,000 for college-bound students in the local area. In her hometown of Chattanooga, Carolyn united with the Greater St. John Baptist Church and later united with First Baptist Church, Garmon Street in Warner Robins. She was a driven individual and possessed a resilience and determination to complete any task she began with the expectation of a successful goal upon completion. She involved herself in her community in a number of ways including serving as a member of the Board of Directors for PWR Credit Union and the Family and Community Connections Coordinator at Trinity United Methodist Church. A kind, giving, and compassionate person, Carolyn had the ability of making a person feel as if she had known them their entire life, regardless of when they actually met. She had many hobbies including shopping, decorating, reading, traveling, and cooking. She loved listening to Gospel music and Joel Osteen. She could often be found laughing at the antics of Sheldon on television’s Big Bang Theory.

A TIME TO MOURN: Carolyn is survived by an extremely loving and devoted family including her husband, Jerome Buford; her children, Justin Mickale Buford, Brian Michael Buford, and Brandon Marcus Buford; her grandson, Camden Amir Buford; her mother, Annie Ruth Freeman; her siblings, Wanda Bryant (Jerome), Curtis Spurgeon, and Oliver Spurgeon, Jr. (Yolanda); her brother-in-law, Sharkley Buford (Deloris); her sisters-in-law, Janice Collier (Bill) and Ruby Jennings (James); and a host of other loving family members and friends. Carolyn was preceded in death by her father, Oliver Spurgeon.

Visitation with Carolyn’s family will be Thursday, July 9, 2020, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. The funeral service celebrating her life will immediately follow at 6:00 p.m. in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home with the Reverend Josh Kirvin officiating. Interment will be private. For friends unable to attend, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in memory of Carolyn S. Buford to the WRAC Scholarship Fund or The American Cancer Society Relay For Life at www.warnerrobins-dst.org/about-us/in-loving-memory/buford-memorial/.

The Buford family respectfully requests that anyone attending the visitation or the funeral service wear a face mask for the protection and safety of everyone in attendance.

McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.