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Sept. 16, 1952 – Sept. 5, 2024

NATCHEZ – Sydney Lynn Samrow Buckner, born on Sept. 16, 1952, in Harvey, LA, and passed away on Sept. 5, 2024, at the Gulfport, MS home of her longtime friend and confidant Kimball P. Marshall, Ph.D., where she was being lovingly cared for by Dr. Marshall’s daughters, Annah Joseph and Elizabeth Bruno with the support of St. Joseph Hospice and Cornerstone Caregiving in home care.  Her body was cremated in Biloxi, MS, and returned to Natchez under the care of Dr. Marshall. During the weeks preceding her death, Ms. Buckner was being treated for an illness at Merit Hospital in Natchez, and East Jefferson General Hospital in Metairie, LA.

She was preceded in death by her former husband, James E. Buckner, and is survived by her aunt, Louise McClelland, and by numerous cousins and friends in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Sydney was a resident of Natchez for approximately 22 years and was a previous member of the First Presbyterian Church where she served a term as elder and participated in the handbell choir. Recently, she joined the Catholic Church as a member of the St. Mary’s Basilica congregation. She also served until recently as a member of the Natchez Garden Club and greeted Spring Pilgrimage visitors at the homes of friends at Fair Oaks and the Parsonage. Other past community service work included serving as a board member of the Friends of the Library, the Preservation Society of Ellicott Hill, and the Natchez Garden Club. She also served as a member of the Natchez Historical Society, the Historic Natchez Foundation, and the Urgent Care Association of America. She was an avid antique collector and worked with Hal Garner from 2003 until 2007.

Prior to moving to Natchez, Ms. Buckner earned bachelor’s degrees in sociology from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1975 and in nursing from William Carey College in Hattiesburg, MS in 1980. She was a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. She was ACLS certified and held current licenses for Louisiana and Mississippi. Ms. Buckner worked in various nursing roles at Kelsey Seybold Clinic of Houston (1988-1991), Camelot Leisure Living in Ferriday (2005-2006), and Natchez Community Hospital (2007), among other locations including Mexico, Natchez, Lafayette, and New Orleans between 1983 and 2000. Ms. Buckner will be missed by friends from her activities that have benefited so many others. Plans are underway for her ashes to be interred during a religious ceremony at the Natchez City Cemetery Columbarium when that facility is opened in early December and for a gathering of friends and family immediately following the internment ceremony. When available, the schedule of these activities will be shared through the network of Ms. Buckner’s friends and family.