uckhanon, eldest child of John and Ida Joe Reese, was born November 25, 1922 and peacefully passed this life at her home on Tuesday evening, May 29, 2018. Mrs. Buckhanon was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Julius Buckhanon, Jr. and seven of her siblings: John West, Henry, Willie Joe, R.B., Sanders, Bessie, and Daniel.

Mrs. Buckhanon was a homemaker during the formative years of her children’s lives. When she entered the workforce it was to work with children; and during the 1960s and 1970s, she served as a substitute teacher in the West Point Public Schools. She later became a teacher and center administrator in the Chambers-Tallapoosa Head Start Program. She ended her work life at the age of seventy-seven as a teacher’s assistant at the Virginia Cook Day Care Center.

For many years Mrs. Buckhanon was a civic leader in West Point and served as President of the West Point Civic League. During her lifetime, Mrs. Buckhanon held membership in Rehobeth, Greenwood, and St. John Baptist Churches, where she served in various roles, including Matrons, Deaconesses, and as a Crusaders leader. In civic and spiritual roles she served with courage and integrity while exhibiting attributes that reflected excellence in execution and results.

Mrs. Buckhanon is survived by her children, Judith Tucker, Columbus, Ga.; Morris (Linda) Buckhanon, Lanett, Ala.; Carlton (Gail) Buckhanon, Miami Gardens, Fla., and Vanessa (Richard) McGowen, Grayson, Ga.; her siblings, Eddie Reese and Missouri (James) Travis, Valley;  grandchildren Kenneth Tucker, Austin Moore, Pamela Buckhanon, Antonio Buckhanon, Kayla Buckhanon, Larry Buckhanon, Ricky Buckhanon, Rory Buckhanon, Tracey Buckhanon, Jarrett McCullough, Christi Smith, Taquilla Buckhanon, Carla Ayers, Courtney Buckhanon and Dushea Packingham.

Others left mourning her loss are great-grandchildren, children that entered the family as foster children and remained a part of the family, nieces and nephews, cousins, church family, the many students she influenced, and neighbors who were unparalleled in their ability to be real neighbors.

Funeral services for Mrs. Buckhanon will be held during the noon hour on Monday, June 4, 2018 at Bethlehem Baptist Church, 1111 East 10th Street, West Point. The remains will lie in state at the church from 11 a.m. EDT until to the funeral hour.

Dr. W.T. Edmondson, pastor, and Rev. Willie Barber, eulogist, will preside, and interment will follow at Marseilles Cemetery in West Point.

Please visit our website to express online condolences at www.mwleemortuary.com

Professional services have been entrusted to M.W. Lee Mortuary of West Point.