Elizabeth Ann Buffkin, age 86, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, October 30, 2026. The family will receive friends from 10:00AM to 10:45AM on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Willow Spring. Funeral Services will follow at 11:00AM on Wednesday, November 4, 2026 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. Officiating will be Revs. Anthony Clayborne and Mark White. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

She was born March 25, 1940, the only daughter of the late Dwight King and Emily Coats King, on the farm where her grandparents, Claude & Martha Smith Coats, and her parents lived and worked the land. She cherished her family and loved to share fond memories about her early life on the farm with her grandparents and parents, and with aunts, uncles and cousins who lived nearby. Ann was a 1958 graduate of Cleveland High School where she met her future husband, Joseph Buffkin. They were married in December 1959, when he was in the Marine Corps and she was a nursing student at Mary Elizabeth Hospital, and enjoyed over 60 years of marriage until Joseph passed away in 2020. They had two sons, Tony and Danny.

Upon completing her L.P.N at Mary Elizabeth Hospital, Ann worked as a nurse for Dr. Tom Johnson in Smithfield for many years until 1981, when her younger son Danny suffered a catastrophic head injury from a motorcycle accident while he was a freshman at Campbell University. While in the hospital for over 6 months, she rarely left his bedside, caring for him and praying for his recovery. When he was finally able to come home, he wanted to continue his education at Campbell. Because of his disabilities, she attended every class with him, diligently taking notes and studying with him every night. She became a fixture on the Campbell campus during the mid-1980’s, pushing Danny in his wheelchair from class to class. When Danny finally graduated in 1987, Campbell University recognized her as an honorary member of the Class of 1987.

Ann and Joseph were lifelong members of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and lived their faith through service to the Lord. They believed in missions and became involved in the American Belarussian Relief Organization (ABRO), a mission organization dedicated to bringing relief to Belarussian children impacted by the Chernobyl disaster. For a number of years, they, along with a number of other families, hosted children from Belarus during the summer. Ann & Joe made two mission trips to Belarus to meet the families of the children there and to share their Christian faith. Ann probably never imagined as a young girl growing up on a small farm in Johnston County in the 1940’s and 50’s, that she would someday travel halfway around the world on those mission trips.

Ann is survived by her two sons, Tony Buffkin and wife, Ginger of Clayton, NC; Danny Buffkin and wife, Denise of Willow Springs, NC. Ann is also survived by her granddaughter who was the apple of her eye, Katie Hiltonen and husband, Mike of Portland, Maine. She is also survived by her cousin, Jackie H. Miller of Willow Springs, NC.

The family wishes to express their sincere thanks to the staff of Kingswood Reserve and to Gentiva Hospice for their loving support and care. In addition, the family wants to express their gratitude to caregivers Martha Timbers, Shelley Darity, Almarie Mack and Wyndi Brewer for their loving care prior to mom’s residence at Kingswood.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (1241 Old Fairground Rd, Willow Springs, NC 27592) or to The Samaritan’s Purse (PO Box 3800, Boone, NC 28607).

Arrangements by Rose & Graham Funeral Home in Benson.