On December 17, 1938, Buford Emerson Vandergriff was born in Knoxville, TN. A preemie, born in the midst of a storm, the doctor came to the house, not expecting him to survive. His first bed was the top drawer in his parent’s chest of drawer. At two weeks old, fully clothed, he weighed in at 4lbs. and a few ozs. Buford attended Lincoln Park Baptist Church and Lincoln Park Elementary School until 1947, when they moved to Columbia TN and joined First Baptist Church and where he made his profession of faith and was baptized by Brother Jim Brewer. Buford enjoyed helping his dad start Godwin Baptist Chapel as a mission of First Baptist Church, participating with Sunday School and Sunday services from time to time, plus cutting grass and cleaning the building. Godwin became Riverview Baptist Church and today is a thriving congregation in Columbia. He attended McDowell Elementary School and Middle School until 1952 when the family moved to Atlanta where he attended Southwest High School and he played 8th grade basketball, varsity football and track, graduating in 1958. They were active members of Cascade Baptist Church. Buford attended Georgia State University and Atlanta Law school before working at Seaboard Finance Company where he met Martha Sue McEver, the girl of his dreams. They married May 30, 1964. In February of 1966 they were blessed with a precious baby girl, Pamela Ann, and in March of 1969, their family was completed with the arrival of a fine baby boy, William (Bill) Allen. Buford worked for Allstate and transferred to Chicago IL in early 1970s as a vice-president of Realco Railroad. There he helped design two systems used for mass transportation, one to secure cargo carried by rail or truck and one to attach additional truck beds to railcars. The family lived in Naperville and were active members of Berea Baptist. In 1979 they moved back to the Atlanta area, settling in Covington where he formed several businesses. They were members of Calvary Baptist Church and later East Newton Baptist where they both taught Sunday School. Buford sang in the choir, was a deacon, and served in many other areas as needed. An avid pilot of his own plane, in his later years Buford particularly enjoyed the Saturday morning gathering of retired pilots. He loved his family and friends, his community, his church, and especially helping people in need. Buford died in the early hours of January 10, 2023 after three years of coping with congestive heart failure. He is pre-deceased by his parents, I. A. (Vandy) and Mabel Vandergriff, His father- and mother-in-law H.M. and Carrie Lee McEver, two sisters, Phyllis V. Darden and Alise Vandergriff, a baby-brother born prematurely, David Lee; brothers-in-law Fred, Robert, H.M.(Mac), and Harry Mc Ever, and sister-in-law Frances Flanagan. He is survived by his wife Martha McEver Vandergriff, daughter Pam (Jeff) Pajerski; son Bill (Paige) Vandergriff; sister, Barbara Vandergriff; brother-in-law George Flanagan; grandchildren Jackson and Harlan Stokes; Kailey and Sydney Pajerski, Payton, Rowen, Browyn, Flynn, and Imogene Vandergriff. . He is also survived by several nephews, nieces, and cousins along with their families.
Donations may be made in his memory to: East Newton Baptist Church 11290 HWY 278 East Covington GA 30014
Memorials to the New Work Foundation in memory of Buford Vandergriff: New Work Foundation P. O. Box 911 Conyers, GA 30012