Patricia Ann Payne Buckner

Patricia Payne Buckner, 84, passed away on February 7, 2024 in Chapel Hill, NC. Pat was born in Tacoma Park, Maryland on March 15, 1939, the daughter of William and Emilie Payne. After graduating from high school in Penn Township, PA, Pat attended Mars Hill College in North Carolina.

On August 13, 1960, Pat married Joseph Grady Buckner of Asheville, NC, whom she had met at Mars Hill. They were married for sixty-three years. They moved to Knoxville, TN, where Joe studied civil engineering at UT and Pat worked for the Social Security Administration. Joe and Pat later moved to Asheville where they raised their two children and where Pat worked for The Veterans Administration for 25 years.

Pat was an active member of Acton United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir, volunteered with various groups, and taught Sunday school for many years. She was also a volunteer with the Asheville Buncombe County Christian Ministries for many years. She received such joy in this ministry of helping those in need. Pat grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland and on the Chesapeake Bay south of Annapolis, Maryland where she loved to spend time in and around the water. She and Joe loved to travel with their two children every summer and she especially loved traveling to her family home in Jekyll Island, Georgia where they enjoyed special time with family. Pat and Joe also loved to travel to Lake Gaston, NC and Hilton Head Island, SC to spend time with her father. Pat loved music and learned to play the piano as a child. She got so much enjoyment playing her music at home and at her piano recitals. She especially enjoyed playing hymns and Christmas songs.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Buckner, and her parents, William and Emilie Payne. She is survived by her two children: Kenneth W. Buckner of Cary, NC (and his wife Carol H. Buckner); and Jodi M. Buckner of Greensboro, NC; and her two grandchildren, Stephen Buckner and Mary Buckner of Cary, NC.

Pat is also survived by her two sisters: Judith Taylor (and husband Thomas Taylor) of Hampstead, NC; and Kathryn Turner of Cary, NC; as well as by many beloved nephews and nieces and their children.

Funeral services will be held February 25, 2024 at 1:30pm at Acton United Methodist Church (171 Sand Hill School Road, Asheville, NC 28806). The family will receive friends from 12pm-1:30pm in the fellowship hall of the church following the 11am church service. Burial will follow the funeral service at Green Hills Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made either to the Alzheimer’s Association, Acton United Methodist Church, to the Dementia Society of America, or to the charity of your choice.

Anders-Rice Funeral Home and Cremation Center is honored to serve the Buckner family.