Andy Ann
On Tuesday, December 6th, the Floyd Buckner Building ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in honor of the late Floyd Buckner. This building is the new Taxpayer Services Center at 118 Benson Street. Those in attendance appreciated Floyd Buckner and his passion to serve Colleton County to the end. It was mentioned how fitting it was to name a building that served the community he loved so much.
A native of Colton County, Floyd Buckner was born in 1941, the son of the late Eddie Buckner and Justin Capers Buckner. He passed away in July 2011 after a six-year battle with cancer. He was loved and missed by many in the community.
Buckner graduated from Old Ruffin High School in 1960. He then attended Columbia’s Benedictine College, graduating in 1964 with his Bachelor of Arts degree. In the late 1970s, he received a master’s degree in education from South Carolina State University.
Buckner served as a parent, teacher, principal, and leader throughout Colton County. He also served as Director of the Colton County School District’s Title I Program, ensuring that Title I funds were used appropriately.
Buckner was an influential figure as a mentor and role model for others. He has worked on a variety of programs that benefit school children and has served on multiple city, county, and state boards and other boards in South Carolina.
He was also a pioneer in Colton County and Walterboro. He was the first African-American to serve on the board of directors of a bank, was a member of the Walterboro-Colton Airport Commission, and was the owner and publisher of Colton County’s first African-American newspaper. was president of the Arabian Temple No. 139 of the Walterboro Shrine Club. He was elected to the Colleton County Assembly to chair the county legislature, winning the county’s first runoff election.
Buckner was also the first person to have his name on the Colton County Courthouse. Unfortunately, a tornado in April 2020 damaged the original Floyd’s Buckner Building at the corner of Washington Street and Jeffries’ Boulevard. The building previously housed the Colleton County school district office. The building was deemed a total loss and had to be demolished.
Buckner made it his life’s mission to give the inhabitants of Colton County the gift of service, striving for the progress, growth, and improvement of all, no matter who they were. It made no difference to him whether he was black or white.
Buckner’s son Dwayne Buckner, along with other family, friends, Coreton County board members and guests, will celebrate the achievements of his life in his loving memory and through the ribbon-cutting ceremony will open the new Taxpayer Services Center. was dedicated.
