Donald Raymond Buckner

On Christmas Eve 1930, Donald Raymond Buckner was born to O.C. and Susie Buckner, who had migrated from Alabama and settled in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Don credited his mother, who worked as a nursing assistant while raising him and his five siblings, as the source of his values and abiding faith and commitment to education, and his father, the township’s first African-American police officer, with his strong work ethic.

Don was an exuberant student and after, he excelled at West Virginia State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and economics. Following graduation, he served in the U.S. Army in Anchorage, Alaska just after the Korean Conflict. Honorably discharged, he moved to Ohio where he pursued a master’s degree in education at Kent State University. Subsequently, when he earned a doctorate in education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, he became “Dr. Donald Buckner.” While the degree was a source of professional pride, many of Don’s acquaintances were unaware of this accomplishment, as he never used the title socially.

As God would have it, while at college, Don was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and met Velma Alexander, a smart, attractive member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. They later reconnected in Cleveland, Ohio, whereupon she became the love of his life. The couple married on June 22, 1958 in her hometown of Fairmont, West Virginia, and later added two daughters, Jan Allyson and Lori Dawn, to their union. In October 1968, Don moved his family to Silver Spring, Maryland, with a sense of determination and a vision of success for himself, his family and his new community. In 1970, they moved to New Rochelle, New York, where Don had received an offer from a major publishing house.

Don used his personal and professional gifts to serve his community over the years. But his generosity did not stop there; it extended to neighbors – whom he was eager to offer a hand – and young people who aspired to higher education. He and Velma warmly offered their home in Silver Spring as a safe haven to relatives, friends, friends of friends and others who were in summer school, enrichment programs and summer employment during their matriculation (mostly at Howard University) or college summer breaks. In all, approximately 20 young people – now doctors, lawyers, elected officials, educators, journalists, corporate executives, government professionals and more – lived at the Buckner household while launching their dreams. The only requirement was their best efforts toward their goals, coupled with a commitment to paying it forward to other young people. Because of this, Don’s efforts will continue to bear fruit in perpetuity.

In 1970, after working in New York to pioneer the inclusion of diverse profiles and voices in the publisher’s biography and fiction offerings, he missed suburban life and decided to relocate back to Silver Spring. Upon his return (to his same house, no less), he spent many productive years at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), where he served as one of its few African-American directors, establishing a grant program that continues to fund the careers of black professionals in allied health fields. His service on national accreditation boards for medical and dental schools ensured that the Black colleges received fair treatment and consideration. Similarly, he utilized his visibility to NIH’s high school and college internship programs to broaden awareness of these valuable opportunities.

As Montgomery County was struggling with the issues that naturally accompany integration, Don lent his clarion voice to share the views of the Black community and drive unity and inclusion. He mounted a vigorous campaign for the County’s Board of Education and, while he did not win the seat, he was chosen by the Iota Upsilon Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha as Man of the Year. This was a particular honor as Don had been a driving force in the rise of the chapter as well as the NAACP with which he had also worked closely and become a lifetime member.

While the greatest love of his life was family, fishing ran a close second. Don especially loved fishing with friends and with his wife and daughters (the latter of which provided fine companionship, but also necessitated detangling their lines from nearby trees). Over time, he owned various boats that provided him hours of relaxation and excitement on the Chesapeake Bay, local waterways. Not coincidentally, much of Don’s business travel led him to destinations with lakes and rivers, so he never traveled without his fishing rods. Though he caught a lot of fish in his life, sometimes his outings consisted of nothing more than catching fresh air and drowning worms. In any event, whether fishing from his boat or the shore, he never failed to come home with either a fish or a fish story. Don was also the handiest of men, spending hours standing in his basement at the tool bench he built himself. There was very little he could not fix or build, often using unconventional methods and curious materials, a proclivity which prompted his family to jokingly refer to him as “MacGyver.”

In retirement, Don continued his driving philosophy to seek and nurture the potential of youth. His very fabric defines family in the broadest sense, beyond the happenstance of blood relationship. He considered the community – local and national — his family. A founding member of the ROMEOs (Retired/Refined Old Men Eating Out), he ate heartily and joyfully with these friends at their bi-monthly breakfast outings – sometimes just enjoying the casual camaraderie and, at other times, brainstorming on issues and opportunities to progress, honor and support their families and serve as an example for the next generation of strong, purposeful men.

The youngest of six, Don was preceded in passing by his siblings, O.C. (“Bo”), Perry and Millie Buckner. He leaves to celebrate his love and legacy, his wife, Velma Buckner; two treasured daughters and the sons they brought him, Jan Buckner Walker (Reginald) and Lori Buckner Farmer (Raymond); two amazing granddaughters (Laurel and Alexandra Farmer); two siblings, Dorothy Cooper (Bart) and Theresia Preston; many beloved cousins; a warm, close-knit circle of friends; and a host of nieces, nephews and others who will forever be proud to call him “Uncle Don”. Often when life challenges arose, Don would nod and say with surprising ease, “Keep on keeping on”. Let’s do just that.

To view the recorded live stream please visit the link below.

https://youtu.be/lTBqx8FUnBU

For those who are going to attend the services in person you are welcome to meet in the Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home parking lot for a procession scheduled to leave at 11am on Wednesday, June, 17, 2020. Otherwise guests are welcome to meet directly at Parklawn Memorial Park at 11:45 am for the graveside funeral.

Order Of Service

Military Honor ------------------------ U.S. Army Guard

Omega Ceremony ------------------------ Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Welcome ------------------------ Rev. Donald R. Kelly

Pastor, Olive Branch Community Church

Scripture ------------------------ Revs. Pernell Baker and Deborah J. Keaton

Old Testament: Micah 6:8

New Testament: Philippians 4: 6-8

Selection -Total Praise ------------------------ Esther Williams& Davey Yarborough

Introduction of Life Story ------------------------ Annella Banks, Niece

Family Words of Reflection ------------------------ Reginald Walker, Son-in-Law

Jan Buckner Walker, Daughter

Lori Farmer, Daughter

Raymond Farmer, Son-in-Law

Alexandra Farmer, Granddaughter

Eulogy ------------------------ Rev. Donald R. Kelly

Benediction ------------------------ Rev. Donald R. Kelly