Jim Buchanan

Mr. James Wofford Buchanan, Sr, 86, formerly of Lexington, died Thursday, January 25 at High Point Medical Center.

A memorial service will be held at 3pm Friday, February 2 at First United Methodist Church by the Revs. Kirk Tutterow and Cheryl Skinner.  The family will receive friends following the service in the Church Fellowship Hall.

Mr. Buchanan was born December 20, 1937 in Spartanburg, SC to the Rev. Horace Wofford Buchanan and Georgia Brooks Buchanan.  Jim grew up in Erlanger and attended Grimes School and graduated from Lexington High School in 1956. Jim met his best and life long friend, Joe Biesecker in Kindergarten. After High School, Jim attended the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. He left school to serve his country in the US Army, and then returned to UNC to graduate. After graduation Jim’s family moved to Bessemer City where he met Shirley Anne Strutt when she brought him cherries from her mom’s cherry tree. They married in 1962 and had 33 years of happy marriage until Shirley succumbed to breast cancer.

In 1970 Jim moved his family back to Lexington and started working as a chemist in the lab at PPG Industries in 1973. He retired as a Staff Engineer for Environmental Affairs after 28 years with PPG.  From the time he arrived back in Lexington, Jim was an active member of First United Methodist Church, serving as a member of the Chancel Choir, the handbell Choir, and numerous committees. In 2021 Jim was awarded the Laity Service Award at FUMC for his many hours of service. Jim served his community with many years on the Lexington Planning and Zoning Board and in later years doing volunteer work with the Methodist Men as well as working with the senior center to help seniors file their taxes. After retiring, he taught the NC Water Pollution System Operators Certification course at the Community College.

In 1996 Jim married a long time friend and fellow FUMC member Betsy Evans and his family grew to include Betsy’s children and their spouses and kids.

Jim was an avid Carolina fan, had a strong faith, loved his family tremendously and had a beautiful singing voice. He loved the FUMC choir and singing in the Community Christmas concert. In past years he sang with the Men of Song, the FUMC Mixed Double Quartet and played French Horn in the Community Band.

He is survived by his wife, Betsy Crutchfield Evans Buchanan; his son, Jim Buchanan, Jr and wife Monique of Polk City, FL; his daughter, Holly Fishback and husband Steven of Durham; his brother, Charles Buchanan and wife Judy of Columbia, SC; his grandchildren, Matthew Fishback and wife Taylor, Catherine Fishback, Georgia Fishback, and Nathaniel Buchanan along with Betsy’s children: Mark Evans, Linda Evans (Scott Morris), Wayne Evans (Cindy), and Debbie Evans, and their children, Craver Evans, Sydney Morris, Cole Morris, Kacie Allred, Erinn Allred, Madison Allred, and Blake Evans.

Jim’s family would like to thank the fourth floor staff at High Point Medical Center who worked hard and were so caring to him.

In lieu of flowers and in remembrance of Jim Buchanan’s Life, memorials may be made to the EveryAge Foundation Benevolent Fund https://everyage.org/foundation or by mail: 100 Leonard Ave, Newton, NC 28658, or to Lexington Medical Center Foundation (Shirley Strutt Buchanan Scholarship Fund)  2316-B South Main Street, Lexington NC 27292