Jeanie Hedrick Buchanan

Jeanie Hedrick Buchanan passed away on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at home. A celebration of life will be held at Macedonia United Methodist Church in Southmont, N.C., on Sunday, February 23rd at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends in the Spirit Hall following the service. Jeanie was born at Lexington Hospital on December 29, 1956 to Jacob Thomas ("Tommy") and Betty Trantham Hedrick. She grew up in Southmont as a member of Macedonia and loved her hometown including summers spent at High Rock Lake. She graduated from Central Davidson High School in 1975. She then went to her dream college, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she graduated with her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1979. While at UNC-Chapel Hill, she met her husband John Glen Buchanan. They were married in 1979 and while John attended dental school at UNC-Chapel Hill, Jeanie worked in Raleigh for the Council on the Status of Women advancing women's access and rights to much-needed services. While continuing to live in Chapel Hill, she enthusiastically celebrated the Carolina men's basketball 1982 national championship on Franklin Street. Following Dr. Buchanan's graduation from dental school, Jeanie returned to her Davidson county roots where she worked in her husband's dental practice until the birth of their first daughter. She was a beloved member of the community who dedicated nearly 40 years to the Charity League of Lexington including the annual play for school children, most notably as the Genie in Aladdin, and assisting South Lexington Elementary School reading program in the 1990-00s. She was an active member of the Democratic Women of Davidson County and had served as precinct chair for the party. A true Tar Heel born and bred, she took pride that her bassinet was next to the television when the 1957 UNC men's basketball team won the national championship to cap off a 32-0 season. An avid sports fan, she held season tickets to Carolina men's and women's basketball, football, and baseball. She travelled for post-season action including the 2005, 2009, and 2017 NCAA Men's National Championships, multiple men's and women's ACC and NCAA tournaments, and the College World Series numerous times, as well as a European tour with the Carolina women's basketball team. She also shared her father's love of the NY Yankees making several trips to both old and new Yankee Stadiums. She loved the Kentucky Derby, attending several times as well as ATP tennis including holding box seats at the Winston-Salem Open since its inception in 2011. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived in death by her husband, Dr. John, daughters Mary Buchanan of Virginia Beach, Va., and Dr. Helen Buchanan Peters (Jonathan) of Durham, her sister Stephanie Potter (Bob), and her dear cousin Jane Kearns. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be sent to "Friends Feeding Friends", Macedonia United Methodist Church, PO Box 190, Southmont NC 27351 or to Kamp Kiwanis Children's Foundation, PO Box 1951, Lexington NC 27292