Jeffrey Wayne Buntin

Jeffrey Wayne Buntin passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at home surrounded by family. He was born May 12, 1941, the son of Virginia Neely Buntin and Edwards Sinclair Buntin. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Varina Frazer Buntin, three children Jeffrey Wayne Buntin Jr. (Kemp), Eugene Frazer Buntin (Tiffany), Varina Buntin Willse (Walker) and eight grandchildren, Gaither Waterman Buntin, Thomas Rush Buntin, Anne Barnett Buntin, James Frazer Buntin, Sarah Neely Buntin, Mary Varina Willse, Julia Pierson Willse and Campbell Buntin Willse. He is also survived by his siblings Edwards Sinclair Buntin, Elizabeth Buntin Finucane (Brendan), and John Craighead Buntin, his sister-in-law Connie Murr Frazer, his brother-in-law Marshall Gaither Frazer (Virginia) as well as numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

A longtime resident of Nashville and Robertson County, Tennessee, Jeffrey was the fifth generation to live on the farm that is still in his family and today represents seven generations of continued ownership of the land. He graduated from Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville and The University of the South, Sewanee, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order, Order of Gownsmen and business manager of the university’s publication, The Sewanee Purple. While in college, he became a television news writer and reporter with WSM Incorporated and a correspondent for United Press International where he received recognition for his reporting on the Palmer, Tennessee coal mine strikes and violence in the 1960s. Subsequently, as a member of the Tennessee Air National Guard, he served as the Staff Sergeant and leader of the pilot and flying equipment section at Berry Field, Nashville.

Entering the advertising field in his early twenties, he worked with his father at Buntin & Associates, Inc. In 1972, he founded Buntin Advertising, Inc., which later became The Buntin Group. The Agency grew to be the largest advertising agency in the state and one of the top twenty-five independent marketing firms in the country. In 1990, he founded Buntin Out-of-Home Media, LLC, which became the largest independent outdoor media management company in America. In addition to numerous Clio, Addy and Film Festival creative awards, he was named the Outstanding Southeastern Advertising Executive of the year by ADWEEK Magazine. He was past President of the Nashville Advertising Federation and the Nashville Advertising Silver Medal honoree for leadership in the industry. In 2023, the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) presented him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. One of Jeffrey’s most notable contributions was the mentoring he gave to so many young associates, many of whom went on to become leaders in the marketing and business world.

In addition to advertising, Jeffrey was active in the television production industry, founding Hawkins Street Productions, which produced a series of top-rated shows on TNN including Path to Stardom and Home to the Ryman. Other business interests included being an original organizer and owner of Channel 17, WZTV, in Nashville that was later sold to Fox Media. He was a founding partner in TravelMasters, Inc., a luxury travel agency that was sold to American Express Travel, and the owner of several Captain D’s Seafood Restaurants in Texas and Kentucky. In the software industry, he was founder of GeoTrak Systems®, which developed a universal platform for buying out-of-home media that is recognized as the preferred buying application for the outdoor industry.

Jeffrey’s creative talents led to short story writing. Every year at Christmastime, he wrote a story of historical fiction that he would read to the agency and to his family on Christmas Eve. He attended the Sewanee’s Writers Conference in 2008 and in 2010 published a collection of short stories entitled Christmas Miracles. He has written and designed nine more books of private publishing, which capture the legacies of people and places he loved.

Active in community and arts organizations, serving as both President and Chairman of the Board of The Tennessee Repertory Theater, he founded SRO, Standing Room Only, which was a support group for theater in Nashville. In 1982, he was elected to the Board of Governors of the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce and served on the Board of NPT, Nashville Public Television. He also served on the Board of Ensworth School as Vice President and on the Board of the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. He was in Leadership Nashville and a member of the Downtown Rotary Club. Through ADHOPE, the charitable outreach arm of his company, thousands of children, families and seniors in the Nashville area received needed comfort and support. A talented and gifted, self-taught auctioneer, he volunteered his talent for a great number of charity auctions including the Swan Ball for 15 years, the Ensworth School Auction, Steeplechase Calcutta, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and others. It is estimated that he sold over $20 million in auction items to benefit charitable causes and schools.

Jeffrey also served on the Board of Directors of the Belle Meade Country Club, as Past President of the Belvedere Club, Charlevoix, Michigan, as a member of the Golf Club of Tennessee, and for many years was a playing member of the Nashville Polo Club. As an owner and breeder of thoroughbred horses, he sold yearlings at the Keeneland and Fasig Tipton sales in Kentucky and bred graded stakes winner, Romy. He was also Vice-President and Board Member of New Mesquite Green Homeowners, Palm Springs, California.

The Richland Creek Commerce Association, RCCA, was a group of contemporaries who “grew up along the banks of Richland Creek.” Many were grammar school classmates whose lifelong friendships were honored by a monthly get-together to discuss current events, remember times past and honor each other. A founding member, he enjoyed the company of his oldest and dearest friends until his death. An avid Civil War historian, he studied and visited the site of every major battlefield of the Civil War. Touring with his devoted friends, known as the Rascals, was a spring ritual that he enjoyed for over fifteen years. Through their efforts, a number of sites were preserved including a major portion of the 1863 Battle of Franklin. Hunting with lifelong friends held his interest for a great number of years as well. The Buffalo River Hunting Club, The Swamp Puddle Club in Arkansas, the Sycamore Club and quail hunting in South Texas with old friends were enjoyable pursuits well into his 80’s.

Topmost among his many passions was his family farm in Robertson County, Tennessee, where he would proudly state that his grandchildren were the 7th generation to live on the land. Whether tending fields or supervising the building of a chapel for his beloved wife, the look and appearance of the farm always came first. After the closing of the family dairy operation, he continued with Angus cattle and caring for his retired polo horses.

Honorary pallbearers include the members of RCCA – James O. Bass, E. Warner Bass, Lucius Burch III, Wentworth Caldwell, Rob Cheek II, John Clay Jr., Brendan Finucane, Garth Fort, John McDougall Jr., A. Wylie McDougall, D. B. Murray, Shade Murray Jr., Norris Nielsen, Raymond Pirtle, Thomas Trabue, and Robert Walker – as well as Franklin Jarman, E. Randall Henderson, Dr. James King and David Gray of Charlevoix, Michigan.

Active pallbearers are Brendan Finucane III, Michael Finucane, John Buntin of Washington DC, Wilson Buntin, Shade Murray III of Harbert, Michigan, Hill Lenderman, Richard Cummins and Douglas Waterman.

The family would like to extend deepest thanks to all who cared for Jeffrey, including Dr. Tony Greco, Dr. Byron Haitas, Dr. John Anderson, Dr. Jim King, Dr. Melissa Langley, Dr. Jackson Wray, Dr. Matt Hassan, and Lady Walls.

Visitation with the family will be held on Wednesday, September 11 from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, 900 Broadway, where the Buntin family has worshipped for several generations and where Jeffrey was a member. Services will be held the following day, Thursday, September 12 at 1:00 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral with a committal service immediately following at Mount Olivet Cemetery, 1101 Lebanon Pike Nashville, Tn. 37210. In lieu of flowers, Jeffrey would be honored to be remembered at Montgomery Bell Academy or Harpeth Hall School.