Obituary of Claudia G. Buchanan

Claudia G.  Buchanan passed away peacefully in her daughter’s home on Tuesday, June 28, 2021 at the age of 81.  Claudia is survived by her daughters, Christy Buchanan and Paula Quinn and grandchildren, Boyce Buchanan and Kell Buchanan Evans. 

She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and lived in an adventurous household with her parents, Harvey and Myra Hooks and her sister and brother.   It was here that she learned about everything from farm animals, doing readings for variety shows, antiques, and how to find the right tomatoes for a perfect fried green tomato sandwich.   She was the founding teacher for Bethesda Baptist kindergarten where she taught children to read and for over 40 years continued to influence children’s lives in the many areas they lived.  Her adamant belief that children should read and know their phonics allowed many children to succeed when otherwise they would not have, truly impacting thousands of lives.  She would also tutor children of all ages after hours to help them improve their grade level and have success in the classroom.     

She was married to Raleigh Buchanan for 57 years. She followed him around the country always making a home for her family while teaching.  During their marriage she would accompany him on his many travels as superintendent and he would always talk with pride about her successes in the classroom and her unconventional ways of motivating her students.  He would make sure that her classroom had the best and biggest reading nooks that he would build for her after hours while still wearing his tie.  They always loved a good project and learned how to make each other’s vision work.  While you could always hear a good argument and a loud “Oh Raleigh or an Oh Claudia” they would hold hands afterwards and you could see in their eyes the love and admiration they had for one other.  

In 2018, Claudia and Raleigh moved back home to Winnsboro, SC to be near their daughters and grandchildren.  They found a house that included a stray cat and a pool.  Claudia, at the age of 78, dove into the pool to show everyone that she still could showing everyone that she still had “it”.

At home, she loved her animals, her yard, her clothes, and her stuff.  She loved to find a good antique and display it in the house or find another perfect cashmere sweater because “you can never have too many”.   She loved for you to meet Sargent, Big Boy, and Mr. Macaw and you knew you were special if you got one of the bird’s feathers.  Her last set of cats she refused to give real names to because she wasn’t going to keep them but Fluff, Spot, Stripe, and LC (last kitty or little kitty) had special spots on her bed and couch. 

In her last two years without Raleigh, she struggled with dementia and Parkinson’s, but she always had a love of adventure, a need for Mexican food with a Margarita, a sense of humor, and a desire to sit in the hot sun.   She learned about listening to Elvis on Alexa and would dance, sing and sweep.  In the end she was ready to get dressed up and go out to eat for another meal with Raleigh. 

A drop-in and celebration of her life and Claudia and Raleigh’s love will be held on Sunday, July 11, 2021 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at 1450 Newberry Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180 in Christy’s SHE garden, a place that was special to each of them. It is there where they would help to make it shine, enjoy the good conversations of people, and always come to see what was blooming. There will be a special prayer and comments from her brother, Michael Hooks, at 6:00 pm.  Come spend some time and tell a story, bring a plant for the garden, give a hug, or just relax in one of their favorite places.  While no one is required to wear cashmere, Elvis will be playing and we will have chips and salsa.

Family and friends may sign the online tribute wall at www.southcarolinacremation.com