He retired from the Miami Beach Police Department as a Major and became Police Chief for the City of North Miami Beach.
Buford started his career in law enforcement walking the beat as a City of Miami Police Officer. After retiring from Law Enforcement in 1986 he became the City Manager of North Miami Beach and subsequently ran for City Councilman and served two terms.
Chief Whitaker was active in both the Florida Police Chiefs' Association and the Miami Dade County Police Chiefs' Association where he served as President of both.
He was a lover of music, poetry, and comedy and was an avid fisherman. He will be missed beyond measure.
Buford is survived by his wife of 64 years Nancy Whitaker, his children, Carolyn Whitaker, Kenneth Whitaker, Catherine Parker (Craig), Joanne McShane (Michael), Helen Whitaker Wylie (Rick) and Buford Whitaker, Jr. (Kathy), grandchildren, Jacob, Jason, Jessica, Justin, Christine, Lindsay, Corey, Joshua, Katie, Douglas, 9 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be held at 11:00am, Tuesday, March 24th at St. Maximillian Catholic Church, 701 N. Hiatus Road, Pembroke Pines, FL.
Followed by interment at Hollywood Memorial Gardens North.
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