Christine Buckley

Christine Elizabeth Johnson Buckley

Services for Mrs. Christine Elizabeth Johnson Buckley will be held on Monday, March 17, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Marys Episcopal Church in Enterprise with Rev. J. Brian Ponder officiating. Interment will be held in Enterprise Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday at St. Marys Church from 10 10:30 a.m.

Christine Elizabeth Johnson Buckley, age 103, died on March 12. 2014 at Canon Hospice in Gulfport, MS.

She was born on June 29, 1910 to Sarah Sallie Elizabeth Tullos and Henry H. Johnson in Hinds County, MS. Christine moved to Green Valley, in Jasper County, MS with her twin brother Henry Herbert Johnson at a young age to live with her foster parents, Hickey H. and Melvina Virginia Ryan Tedder. They moved to Enterprise in 1920. Christine was class President and Salutatorian of Enterprise Class of 1928. She was an Alumnus from the Alabama Business College in Birmingham, Alabama. After a few years working for the Bureau of Land Management in New Orleans, Louisiana, she returned to Enterprise. Christine Elizabeth Johnson married Laurence Bernard Buckley, Sr. on December 1, 1933. They joined St. Marys Episcopal Church in Enterprise in 1933. After raising her three children, she began to focus on her next career of being a civil servant. Christine served as an Alderwoman of Enterprise beginning in December 1974. She was elected for three terms as Mayor of Enterprise beginning in June 1981. Some of the major accomplishments as Mayor were: 1 obtaining a donation in 1981 from R.E. Buster Williams to build the present day colonial design Enterprise Town Hall 2 obtaining a grant of 1 Million from the EPA to install the towns first sewage system and 3 firewater protection coverage. She was the first Woman Mayor of Enterprise, and first Mayor to deliver such amenities as fulltime fire protection, water and sewer service, regular garbage service, and a senior citizens center. She always listened to visitors and citizens and was extremely interested in making Enterprise a better community.

She is survived by her Daughter, Olga B. Buckley Karnovich and her Son, Laurence B. Buckley, Jr. Martha. There are three grand children, Laurence B. Buckley, III, Kimberly A. Buckley Parnell Kevin, and Rennie L. Karnovich, and one great granddaughter, Lauren A. WilsonBuckley.

She was preceded by her mother and father a daughter, Linda Ryan Buckley and a Soninlaw, John Karnovich.

Pallbearers: Laurence B. Buckley, III, Kevin Parnell, Jeff Buckley, Jim Buckley, John Pat Wilkins, and Bill Baxley.

Honorary Pallbearers: Burch Johnson, William Buckley, Jr., Clayton Earl McMillan, James Covington and Robert Priester.

In lieu of flowers please send memorials to St. Marys Episcopal Church P O Box 177, Enterprise, MS 39330.

Family and friends may sign the online memorial, leave a personal note or order flowers at jamesfwebb.com

Visitation

St. Marys Episcopal Church
106 St. Johns Road
Enterprise, MS  39330
Monday, March 17, 2014
10 10:30 a.m.

Service

St. Marys Episcopal Church

St. Marys Episcopal Church
106 St. Johns Road
Enterprise, MS  39330
Monday, March 17, 2014
10:30 a.m.

Cemetery

Enterprise Cemetery
North Street
Enterprise, MS  39330