Reverend Dr. Neville E Buchanan

Reverend Dr. Neville Buchanan, born to the late Basil and Louise Buchanan of North Hill, Anguilla on September 23, 1942, came into this world as a fraternal twin to Sinclair Buchanan. Growing up, they were exceptional and were commonly referred to as “the twins”. Needless to say, Neville and Sinclair were inseparable. Regardless of the many escapades they encountered, education was always number 1. Once Neville completed his secondary education, he moved to St. Kitts to work at the Treasury Department. From there, Neville made a life changing decision. He decided to become a Methodist minister, which was influenced partly by his protegee aunt, Ella Buchanan, who herself was a local preacher.

Neville went on to candidate for the ministry and was accepted at the Canewood Theological Seminary in Jamaica in 1965. During his last year, he met the love of his life, Patricia Watson who were together for 52 years and became his beloved wife for 48 of those years. After graduating and marrying his love, within that time, Neville took up his first appointment in St. Vincent. He was then transferred to Grenada. From there, in 1973 he was relocated to Boston, Massachusetts and then Brooklyn, New York where he was a chaplain at Methodist Hospital. One of the greatest decisions in his life came when he was serving in Barbados in 1977. Neville wanted to give back to the community. While preaching on Sundays and hosting a talk show on one of the local stations, he started a project to build a church hall at Hawthorne Methodist Church and wanted to see it to fruition. But in 1980, he was appointed to serve in St. Lucia. Neville decided to petition the chairperson to reconsider this move, for he wanted another year to complete the church hall project. Unfortunately, the chairman would not reconsider the transfer. In return, Neville felt betrayed and his family was upset. This was a true veritable dilemma. Should he go or should he stand on principle and defy the chairman? After much consideration and with much anguish, Neville decided to resign, thus severing ties with the conference of the Methodist Church in the Caribbean. Neville returned to New York and soon after was appointed to Fenimore United Methodist Church in Brooklyn. He made this his church home for over 18 years. Within this time, Neville has been an integral part of the community and has formed many friendships and memories. When Neville left Fenimore, he packed up and joined his wife in Florida. With the excitement of starting fresh in a new state, Neville was appointed to Norland United Methodist Church. He continued his ministry and shared his views and support for the community and the school associated with Norland. Within that time Neville wanted to retire and that all but lasted for 2 years. He found his calling and was appointed to Oak Grove United Methodist Church. Neville made that rigorous drive back and forth on the weekends from Tampa to Lauderhill. After four years, Neville finally retired from the ministry and committed himself to helping his wife Patricia with her dream to open Potters House Nursing facility.

Ministry was Neville’s cornerstone in life, but Education was his passion. Neville believed in being first in his class and believed that knowledge is not only power, but it allows you to have a better understanding and reasoning gained with experience. Neville also saw education as a means of upward social mobility and always demanded excellence in education. Because of this, he also expected this from his children and ensured that his children got a quality education by sending them to private schools. In 1975, Neville received his Masters in Divinity and a Doctorate in Theological Studies from Boston University. In 1984, he furthered his education, with the pursuit of a Masters of Science in Social Work from Columbia University. With this, he was not satisfied. He enrolled in NYU in 1989 and received a Doctorate in Public Administration. Some may say he was truly a professional student. Throughout all his endeavors, Neville found time to give back to the community. In 2002, Neville received a lifetime achievement award from Norland United Methodist church in recognition of dedicated services for the betterment of his community. He was also published in the Tampa Tribune for his community outreach at Oak Grove United Methodist Church.

But his greatest accomplishment was his family. When Neville met Patricia, it definitely was not a spark for Patricia. For her, she felt the part in the middle of his head was ridiculous. But that did not stop Neville. He would do whatever he took to win her heart. He even had the boldness to tell her that she was going to be his wife. On July 3, 1971, Neville and Patricia were married. The following year on July 15, 1972, Jacqueline Marie was born. Throughout his ministry, both Patricia and Jackie travelled everywhere with him. Shortly after, on February 25, 1976, their second child, Stacy Ann was born. On October 5, 1981, their third child Heather Ann-Marie was born. Neville wanted to try for a boy, but life had other plans. Neville was always a devoted husband, father and grandfather. Within his later years, Neville and Patricia were blessed with four grandchildren. Kalah, Olivia, Elijah and Isabella. They bought tremendous joy to them. But on August 15, 2019, Patricia was called home.

In September 2020, Neville was diagnosed with Parkinson’s but was later rediagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. Failing health compounded by medical issues contributed to his rapid decline. Within this time, his eldest daughter Jackie and her partner Greg moved in to take care of him. Even though within those six years, Neville was plagued with progressive Dementia and memory loss, he never lost his dignity.

Reverend Neville Buchanan was called home on April 3, 2026. Good Friday is such a profound day to transition into eternal life. I believe that he can say with the Apostle Paul, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me, the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—not only to me, but also to those who have longed for his appearing.” II Timothy 4: 7-8.

Visitation will be held at Bailey Memorial, 6701 West Commercial Blvd, Tamarac, FL 33319, on May 1, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Funeral Service will take place at First Church Of Coral Springs, 8650 W Sample Rd, Coral Springs, FL 33065, on May 2, 2026, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Friends are asked to gather beginning at 10:30 am for a final viewing before the services and to pay respects to the family.

A Committal Service will follow at Bailey Memorial, 7801 Bailey Rd, North Lauderdale, FL 33068, on May 2, 2026, beginning at 2:30 pm.