CORDELE — Mrs. Viola Ethridge Buford passed away, surrounded by her family, at her home early Wednesday morning, January 20, 2016 at the age of 81. The family will receive friends at Rainey Funeral Services from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, January 23 and at the family residence at other times. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 24, 2016, at Cordele First Baptist Church located at 137 Kelly Road. Interment will follow at Sunnyside Cemetery. Rev. John Smith and Sherriff Billy Hancock will officiate services.
Viola “Vi” was born in Clay County, TN and was the daughter of the late Lemuel Cecil Ethridge and Versa Mae Waddell Ethridge. She was married to William Clark Buford of Willow Grove, TN. Together they had three daughters and one son. She was the owner and co-founder of the Clark Buford Company. Mrs. Buford was a faithful member of the Cordele Church of Christ.
Survivors include her four children and their spouses; daughters, Kathee and Harris Radford of Savannah, Pat and Jens Valle of Marietta, and Suzi Giannoni of Cordele, and a son, Michael Clark and Jennifer Buford of Cordele. Five grandchildren include Ryan Giannoni of Savannah, Jessica Valle of Austin, TX, Justin Valle of Marietta, Ashley (Brett) Braxton and Kathryn Leigh Buford, all of Cordele; and a sister, Creola Thomas of Lee’s Summitt, MO.
Arrangements are by Rainey Family Funeral Services. An online guestbook is available at www.raineyfuneral.com.