Rev. Richard "Buddy" Lee Freeman

Buddy loved his family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Holman Hicks Freeman, his mother, Mildred Olivia Williams, both of Waxahachie, Texas, and his brothers, Robert Eugene Freeman and Jerrell Patrick Freeman.

He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Barbara Brooks Freeman, his daughters, Lisa Hobbs (Steve) and Wendy Brown (James), and his son Brooks Freeman (Sheila), his grandchildren, Flannery Whaley, Kristi Hobbs, Jackson Freeman, and Frances Moss, and his great granddaughter, Amelia Moss.

Buddy graduated high school and began attending Texas A&M University when he was 16 years old. Upon his graduation, Buddy began active duty in the United States Army and served in the Corps of Engineers in Korea during the Korean War.

He subsequently moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where he was employed by Chicago Bridge and Iron as an engineer. He began attending Woodlawn United Methodist Church, where he met his future wife, Barbara Brooks, and where he was inspired and enlightened by Rev. John Rutland to become a minister. Buddy attended the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, received his degree in Theology in 1959, and was then ordained as a minister in the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church.

Buddy served as a pastor of North Alabama churches in Vincent, Hackneyville, Red Hill, Valley Head, Millport and Saks before his appointment as campus ministry at Wesley Foundation at the University of North Alabama, where he served for 17 years. Buddy completed his ministry as pastor of Montevallo First United Methodist Church, where he served for 11 years.

Buddy enjoyed serving as a chaplain for more than 25 years in the Alabama Army National Guard, from which he retired as Colonel.

Buddy was always physically active. He participated in long distance running, and completed the Rocket City (Huntsville) Marathon and the Boston Marathon. He spent many enjoyable hours hiking trails at Oak Mountain, Alabama and halfway around the world in New Zealand. For years, he cycled the back roads of Alabama and, at one point, cycled from Montevallo to Montgomery and back in one day. Late in life, Buddy began training in traditional Japanese (Shotokan) karate and earned his black belt under Sensei David Pope. By the age of 85, Buddy had earned a fourth degree black belt.

Buddy was an artist and for his entire life treasured the art of others. He was an avid reader of both fiction and non-fiction. Buddy was a lifelong scholar of innumerable subjects, including Flannery O’Connor and Thomas Merton.

Buddy lived the Word. He not only saw the church as a community, but also sought to demonstrate the teachings of Jesus Christ through community service. Buddy was non-judgmental and was truly interested in other people’s lives and in what they had to say. He enjoyed participating in John Lott’s Sunday School class, the Montevallo Area Ministerial Association, the WeCare Outreach Ministry, the Shelby County NAACP, the Montevallo Progressive Alliance, the Montevallo Acceptance Project, and Montevallo PFLAG.

Buddy Freeman lived with grace and dignity and died with grace and dignity.

Instead of flowers, Buddy wished that any donations go to Montevallo First United Methodist Church, 861 Middle Street, Montevallo, AL 35115.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 at 1:00 pm at Montevallo First United Methodist Church, followed by a graveside service at 3:00 pm at Montevallo City Cemetery.