Benjamin Buchanan

Benjamin Hal Buchanan Jr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, October 4, 2009. He grew up in Greenville, Mississippi, attended Delta State University, and graduated from the University of Mississippi Medical School in 1969. He then completed an Internship at Memorial Hospital in Savannah, Georgia, before returning to Jackson to complete an Orthopaedic Residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He was certified as a Fellow by the American College of Surgeons and certified as an Orthopaedic Surgeon by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He settled in Tupelo in 1974 to practice at the Tupelo Orthopaedic Clinic. Ben loved practicing medicine and was chosen as NMMC Physician of the Year in 1990.

He had many other interests, including raising cattle and quarter horses, leading Lee County 4-H Clubs, and boating. He was a member of the Mississippi Cattlemens Association and was chosen Cattleman of the Year. He also belonged to the American Quarter Horse Association and was a director representing Northeast Mississippi in the Mississippi Quarter Horse Association. Ben and Sadie were chosen as Eugene Butler Fellows for their contributions to the Mississippi State University School of Veterinary Medicine. In his retirement he was an avid yachtsman and earned his Coast Guard Master Boat Captains Liscense.

Ben has been a member of Calvary Baptist Church since coming to Tupelo in 1974. He and his wife co-taught Sunday School for the young married couples and hosted city wide youth gatherings at their barn (The Loft).

He is survived by his loving wife, Sadie; children, Benjamin Hal Buchanan III and his wife Leigh, and their two sons, Benjamin Hal Buchanan IV and Brock of Tupelo; Vontice Hembree and her husband Frank and their children, Blake and Haley of Oxford; Brad Buchanan and his wife Elizabeth of Jackson; and two brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill Buchanan and his wife, Linda, of Tupelo, and Bob Buchanan and his wife, Theresa, of Madison. One of Bens greatest joys was finding occasions to get his whole family together on a boat, at his home, in his barn.Wherever his family gathered he was happiest in the midst of them.

Visitation will be Monday night, October 5, from 4:00 to 8:00 at Pegues Funeral Home on Jefferson Street. Visitation will also be held at Calvary Baptist Church from 1:00-2:00 on Tuesday, October 6. The funeral will be at 2:00 at Calvary. Pall bearers and honorary pall bearers will be Charles Bryson, William Covington Buchanan Jr., Jimmy Buchanan, David Buchanan, Sammy Buchanan, Colin Maloney, Carl Smith, Cary Smith, Steve Bryson, Tom Bryson, and members of the Norris Caldwell Sunday School Class.