James V.

Tupelo - James Vardaman (Buster) Christian, 101, died Wednesday, May 5, 2010, at The Sanctuary Hospice House after an extended illness. A Lee County native and longtime resident of the Auburn Community, he was born April 21, 1909, to Howard and Della Roberts Christian. He enjoyed traveling, farming, reading, and playing dominoes with friends at Avonlea. He was a member of Auburn Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher. He was one of nine siblings all of whom preceded him in death.

Services will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Auburn Baptist Church with Rev. Tyson Curbow and Rev. Jimmy Henry officiating. Burial will be in Auburn Cemetery.

Survivors include one son, Samuel Christian and wife, Glenda, of Kodiak, Alaska; one daughter-in-law, Sue Christian of Tupelo; seven grandchildren, Pam Christian of Tupelo, Jan McCollum and husband, Ricky, of Amory, Sharon Miller and husband, Paul, of Birmingham, Ala., Allison Mears and husband, Tony, of Saltillo, Leann Christian of Phoenix, Pierce Christian of Kodiak, Alaska, Heather Christian Martens and husband, Mathew, of Kodiak, Alaska; seven great-grandchildren, Emily Putman and husband, Nathan, of Chapel Hill, N.C., Olivia Miller and Hastings Miller of Birmingham, Ala., Christian McCollum of Amory, Hannah Christian of Kodiak, Alaska, Abby and Tanner Mears of Saltillo.

He was preceded in death by parents, his first wife and the mother of his children, Olis Christian; his second wife, Marie Christian; a son, James Christian..

Pallbearers will be his grandsons, grandsons-in-law, and great-grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers

Visitation will be 10:00 a.m. to service time Saturday at the church

Memorials may be made to The Sanctuary Hospice House, PO Box 2177, Tupelo, MS 38803; or Auburn Baptist Church, 1138 Road 931, Tupelo MS 38804.