Hugh David Buffington, 69, of Lavonia, died Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at St. Mary's Hospice House following an extended illness.
Born in Lavonia in 1942 to the late Charlie and Mary Lou (Withers) Buffington, he was a 1960 graduate of Hart County High School and went on to receive teaching degrees from Berry College, Emory University, and Georgia State University. A mathematician and educator, he taught 30 years for the Dekalb County School System. Beginning his career at Clarkston High School in 1965, he went on to teach at Avondale, Towers, and Lakeside High Schools. After his retirement from Dekalb County in 1995, he taught at Emmanuel College and West Oak High School (Westminster, SC). He loved to work with plants and in his garden. Mr. Buffington was an active member of Providence United Methodist Church, which he joined when he was eight years old.
He is survived by daughters and sons-in-law: Christy and Ray Casaday of Braselton and Kimberly and John Leffert of Watkinsville; sister and brother-in-law: Sandra and Herman Bailey of Hartwell; brother: Donald Buffington of Hartwell; sister and brother-in-law: Karen and Charles Stovall of Lavonia; brother-in-law: Phil Franks of Lavonia; grandchildren: Cody and Sara Helton, Jessica Casaday, and Benjamin and Brooke Leffert; great-granddaughter Abigail Helton; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife: Polly Buffington; sister: Joy Franks; and great-grandson: Luke Helton.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 12, 2011 at the Lavonia Chapel of Strickland Funeral Home with Rev. Doug Brown and Ken Buffington officiating. Burial will follow in Providence United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorials can be made to Providence United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 604, Lavonia, GA 30553.