Obituary

Marcia Delores Buford

Marcia Delores Buford was born September 1, 1948, in El Reno, Oklahoma. She graduated from El Reno High School and received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Langston University. After graduating, Marcia taught geometry and trigonometry at Thomas Edison High School in Tulsa. She then spent the majority of her professional career at Sunoco Inc., serving as a manager of information systems and materials management during her 26-year tenure there. Upon retirement, Marcia returned to her hometown and to her love of teaching as an adjunct professor of mathematics at Redlands Community College.

Deeply grounded in her Christian faith, Marcia was a life-long student and teacher of God’s word. For the last 16 years of her life, Marcia was a member of Sunrise Missionary Baptist Church in El Reno; the church in which she grew up and was baptized. She served in numerous capacities at the church including as president of the mission and choir and superintendent of Sunday school. Marcia loved to play the piano and sing, regularly singing in the church choir and with Silver Chords of Yukon, OK, and the El Reno Community Choir.

On April 17, 1969, Marcia married Malcolm L. Buford Sr. and the loving couple shared fifty-two years of marriage, having three children, two granddaughters and a great-grandson. The couple unfortunately lost their youngest daughter, Miriam, in January 2020.

Faith, family, and education were pillars of Marcia’s daily life. She enjoyed a successful professional career while being a devoted wife and mother, an incredible caregiver to multiple family members, an active servant in her church, and a dedicated community volunteer with organizations such as the Ronald McDonald House of Tulsa, Literacy Coalition for Metropolitan Tulsa, and Russell Murray Hospice of El Reno.

On August 26, 2021, Marcia transitioned from this life to glory. She was preceded in death by her parents, T.G. and Dorothy Juanita (Neal) Johnson; daughter; and siblings, Thaddoues G. Johnson, Jr., Thurston G. Johnson and Vannessa M. Johnson. Surviving to cherish her memory are her husband, Malcolm; her daughter, Mischa Buford Epps (Willie); son, Malcom L. Buford, Jr.; brothers, Dr. Gordon L. Johnson, Sr. (Linda) and Howard Johnson; sisters-in-law, Lois Tobias, Linda Labostrie, Gloria Buford, C. Jeannie Drew, Leslie O. Buford and Eleanor L. Colbert (Barry); grandchildren, Mie-Ling D. Buford and Cambridge M. Epps; a great-grandson, Caillum Dellano; and a host of extended family and friends.