James Alton Buford, Sr.

James “Red” Alton Buford, Sr., age 81, died peacefully in Mobile, AL on February 22, 2021. James, also known by his family and friends as “Red” and “Paw Paw”, was born November 16, 1939, in Macon, MS. James was preceded in death by his wife, Luisa Maria Navares Buford, mother, Mary Evelyn McArthur Buford, father, Harvel Montgomery Buford, Sr., sister, Dianna Buford, brother, Dewey C. Buford, and brother, Harvel M. Buford, Jr. Jim is survived by son, C. Rey Versola (Karen), son, James “Jimmy” A. Buford, Jr. (Cindy), daughter, Faye Buford Stewart (Kenny), son, Michael A. Buford (Anna), sister, Frances Hartzog, sister, Alice Faye Holcomb, sister, Belinda Adams, brother, Richard Buford, and 11 grandchildren: Christopher M. Versola, Matthew T. Versola, Benjamin J. Versola, Brady J. Buford, Ryan A. Buford, Jackson B. Stewart, Rhiannon S. Buford, Megan E. Buford, Regan L. Buford, Madalyn A. Buford, and Maksim A. Buford. James will also be missed by many other loving relatives and friends.

The Buford family moved from Macon to Mobile, AL, when Red was in first grade. Growing up in Mobile, Red enjoyed singing in the church choir, playing football and baseball, and working at Hartwell Field for the Mobile Bears. He graduated from Murphy High School in 1958.

After high school, Red joined the U.S. Air Force in September 1958. In the Air Force, Red travelled the world, from Texas to Nebraska to Morocco and beyond, eventually being stationed at Vandenberg AFB in California. There, in 1963, Red met and married the love of his life, Luisa “Lou” Navares, on January 31, 1964 in Santa Barbara, CA, starting their family together with her son Rey. During the next six years, they had three children, James Alton, Faye Marie, and Michael Antonio. They raised all four children in Lompoc, CA and later at Vandenberg AFB. In 1970, the family moved to Mobile, AL when Red was sent to Da Nang Airbase, Vietnam near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) during the Vietnam War. After Jim’s tour of combat duty, they moved to Naranja, FL and Homestead Air Force Base, FL until Red retired after 20 years of military service. In 1978, the family moved back to Mobile, AL where Red worked at several places including the Sheraton Hotel and a long term of service at the Mobile County Health Department as the Building Supervisor, from which he retired in September 2000.

Red enjoyed most of all spending time with his family – fishing, listening (and singing) to music, going to the beach, visiting amusement parks, and attending and participating in sporting events & activities. He also coached many youth sports teams, including football and baseball. Red enjoyed watching sports nearly as much as participating, attending countless hundreds of games, primarily divided between his Los Angeles Dodgers, the South Alabama Jaguars, and above all the Alabama Crimson Tide. Red loved to play golf, especially with his brother, Jr and succeeding in fostering that love in his sons and grandsons. He had 14 hole-in-ones during his lifetime, most recently in 2019. After his retirement, Red refused to slow down, becoming a marshal at his beloved Gulf Pines Golf Club for many years. The remainder of his time in retirement was divided between attending the sporting events, school functions, plays, and concerts of his children and grandchildren as well as introducing them to the western movies and country music of old. Red’s indelible presence was felt everywhere he went, from being the loudest voice at a baseball game to the softest voice at a party, cracking a joke for your ears alone. His presence will be forever missed and cherished by all who knew him.

Funeral services will be held at Pine Crest Funeral Home & Cemetery, 1939 Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile AL, 36605 on Friday, February 26, 2021. Private visitation (family) at 11:30pm and public viewing during 12:00pm-2:00pm. Chapel service at 2:00pm will be followed by graveside service. Reception to follow immediately after the graveside service in the event room at Pine Crest. The pallbearers are his seven grandsons, Chris, Matt, Ben, Brady, Ryan, Jackson, and Maks. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in the memory of Mr. James A. Buford, Sr. to the American Heart Association.

Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

On Eagle’s Wings (song by Michael Joncas) “And He will raise you up on eagles' wings, bear you on the breath of dawn, make you to shine like the sun, and hold you in the palm of His hand”