Barbara Brown Buchanan

  On October 23, 1927, Barbara Brown Buchanan came into the lives of Dr Joseph and Florence Brown, blessing them and her four older siblings.  She loved her family- her home of Lewistown, PA, and she never ceased to adore it.  She met her southern Prince Charming, William E. Buchanan, in 1952, and became a Southerner herself. 

   She attended Maryland College for Women and graduated in 1951. After marrying and moving to Lafayette, LA, she worked for the LA Welfare Department and Hadacol, while Buck attended LSU at Lafayette.

   After graduating, they moved to Vicksburg, where their first two children were born.  Then in 1960, Buck was employed by the US Air Force and their third child was born.  They then moved to West Point where they would make their home for the next fifty-seven years.  Barbara was a stay at home mom until the late 60’s when she became a professional Girl Scout field administrator.  She attended MSU and got her teaching certificate and taught Adult Basic Education at the GT Voc-Tech Center, now EMCC, and the Columbus Air Force Base.  Long after, she was a first grade teaching assistant at East Side School, where she took great personal interest in her students.  She served as a volunteer Pink Lady and President of the NMMC hospital auxiliary, for over 30 years.

  So now with all the boring stuff out of the way, here is a little bit about Barbara Brown Buchanan, the loving wife, grandmother and servant of the Lord. 

  She hated chicken wings, closed-in spaces, and snakes. But she loved animals, her family, First Presbyterian Church, and her Lord.

  She grew up in a big family, the daughter of a doctor, very active in her community with a great love for her country home in Academia, PA, and the nearby covered-bridge, which prompted a life long love for acquiring covered bridge pictures and collectibles.  Her family was the most important thing in her life- even the ‘adopted’ friends of her children that always considered her their second mom. She was active with her husband in the founding and operation of Zoe prison ministry from 1988 until her death. And even though we are still a little afraid of her spanking spoon, we must obey her wish that we rejoice in her death. She has arrived at that heavenly family reunion. And she is finally face-to-face with her Lord,Jesus Christ.                             

A Memorial service will be held 2 PM Friday March 9, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. Michael Cannon officiating. Visitation will be from 1-2 PM Friday at the church.

She is survived by her husband, William E. Buchanan of West Point; son, Mark Buchanan (Donna) of Pawhuska, OK; daughters, Burnette Avakian of Columbus, Robin Foster of West Point; 6 grandchildren, Grace Alexander, Charles K. Foster, Ragan Foster, Elizabeth Skrobialowski, Lydia Gliniak, William ‘Tad’ Merchant; 12 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers, Dr. Joseph S. Brown, Dr. Richard S. Brown; sisters, Maxine Quigley, Burnette Runkle; father and mother-in-law, John and Mary Elizabeth Johnson Buchanan.

Memorials may be made to West Point Clay County Animal Shelter 5122 Old Tibbee Rd or The Gideon’s Memorial Program Po Box 661 West Point, MS 39773.