Sheila Patricia Paul Buffington

Mrs. Sheila Patricia Paul Buffington, age 87, went to be with her Lord and Savior in Heaven on Saturday, August 2, 2025. In the last several years, she suffered from dementia. Mrs. Buffington was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, James Leon Buffington (2005), her father, Mr. Harry Paul (1993), her mother, Mrs. Elsie Eleanor Buchanan Paul (2011), and grandson Dillon Hamby (2019).

Family survivors include daughters and sons-in-law: Debbie (Robert) Hamby of Danielsville, GA; Patsy (Sonny) Cheatham of Pendergrass, GA; and Janet (Andy) Fielding of Ila, GA. There are four grandchildren, Missy (Michael) Tolbert, of Danielsville, GA; Andy (Audrey) Branyon, of Zebulon, NC; Benjamin Bramlett of Ramstein Air Base, Germany; J.S. (Juli) Fielding of Mableton, GA; and Amanda (Anthony) Green of Danielsville, GA. There are six great-grandchildren, Clayton, Matt, and Will Tolbert, Arya and Archer Branyon, and Dillon Kay Green.

Mrs. Buffington was a graduate of Winterville High School, and was of the Baptist faith. She loved the Lord and as the end of her life neared, she looked forward to being in Heaven with her mom, dad, husband, and many beloved animals again.

Mrs. Buffington was a mom and housewife until 1980. After her mother retired, Mrs. Buffington took over as office manager for the family’s business, Athens Electric Company, in Athens, Georgia. As a mom, Mrs. Buffington was an active volunteer. She was a girl scout leader, a 4-H mom and volunteer, and supported all of her daughters’ extra-curricular activities in their school lives. She was known to be a “go to” mom if other students needed a ride to or from an activity.

Once the daughters grew up, Mrs. Buffington took up a childhood hobby again for herself. She had a passion for riding horses and owned horses all of her life. She began showing horses again at the age of 52, in halter and western pleasure. She was an active member of the Madison County Saddle Club, Mountain Stream Saddle Club, Banks County Horse Association, and the Georgia Mountain Association of Saddle Clubs. She served as chaplain many years in these saddle clubs. She was also a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and the Palomino Horse Breeders Association. She showed one of her horses, Squats Impressive, at the PHBA World Show in 1991, and placed in the top five. She was active in riding and showing until 2018, when she was 81 years old.

As grandchildren came along, she was the grandmother who would be there whenever she was needed. The grandchildren loved going to the farm to fish or swim and ride horses with their Granny Sheila.

Bernstein Funeral Home of Athens is in charge of the funeral. There will be a graveside funeral at Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Athens, GA on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 10:00 am. Pastor Sean Thomas of Gilead Baptist Church will officiate her “going home” service.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter, 1888 Colbert-Danielsville Rd., Danielsville, GA 30633. Mrs. Buffington was a lover of all animals and took in many a stray over the years and gave them a wonderful home. Her husband used to jokingly laugh and say she loved her animals more than him.

The family would like to thank the staff of Manor Lake in Athens, Gentiva Hospice, Nurse Tina Waller, and Dr. Lee Chisolm for their wonderful attention and love shown to our mom with her care during these last several years.