Viola Buckner, 96
May 2, 1927 – March 2, 2024
TUPELO – Viola Faye Adkins Buckner, after a long, fruitful and productive life of almost 97 years with her family including Jimmy, Terry, Emily, Chasity, Misty, and Michael surrounding her, met her Creator and reunited with loved ones gone before from her Lee County residence on Saturday morning, March 2, 2024. She was 96 years, 10 months old. Born in Flat Rock, Alabama on May 2, 1927 to the late Warner Adkins and Eldie Edwards Adkins, she grew up there. She and the father of her children, the late Paul Buckner, had 10 children. A career military man, Paul and Faye moved the family over 50 times literally living all over the United States and abroad. Mrs. Buckner was a consummate mother, caring for her children, always packing to move to the next location with little fanfare. A strong independent woman of faith, she was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist faith. A great homemaker, she cared deeply for her family always meeting their needs and necessities and finding time to make each special. If 10 children were not enough, at her death, she was Grandmother to over 80 grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Ever handy with her hands, she was a quilter, seamstress, gardener, and loved watching birds, keeping up with her beloved large family, and reading her Bible unceasingly. Her influence for good will live on as a legacy for her family and friends.
A service celebrating her life will be held at 10 AM Wednesday, March 6, 2024 in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Rev. Kenny McGill officiating. Burial will be in the Boguefala Cemetery in Mooreville. Visitation will be from 5 PM-7 PM on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 and from 9 AM-service time on Wednesday. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/Live-streaming at 10 AM Wednesday and will be permanently archived thereafter.
She is survived by her two sons, Paul Buckner, Jr. of Hatley, and Bill Buckner (Linda) of Amory; her daughters, Linda Blankenship of Conway, S.C., Judy Lynn (Jerry) of Trenton, GA, Donna Gaddis (Jim) of Milton, FL, and Terry Pruitt (Jerry) of Jasper, TN; all her more than 80 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; her sisters, Janan Carr, Sharon Jones, and Karen Russell; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and their families. Well acquainted with grief and loss, she was preceded in death by her parents; Paul; four children, Rita Buckner, Cherry Buckner, John Buckner and Sarah Young; a grandson, Jerome Young; two great-grandsons, Casey Young and Eric Young; and seven siblings, Peggy, Smith, Katherine, Wilbert, Lloyd, James, and Ethel.
Pallbearers will be Jimmy Young, Jr., Jimmy Young, III, Thomas Hunter, Michael Stephens, Eric Hampton, and Jerry Lynn, II. Honorary pallbearers will be Jay D. Young, Knox Hampton, Latran Hunter, and Gus Young.
Holland Funeral Directors is honored to serve their friends.
Condolences for the family may be left on Viola’s memorial page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com.
Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.
