Frank “Buford” Thaxton, Sr., age 79, of Clarksville, passed away Saturday, December 5, 2015, at his residence.
Buford was born December 29, 1935, in Clarksville, TN, to the late Rolo Buford Thaxton and Tinnie Haynes Thaxton. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Gloria Dean Russell and Judy Daniel.
Buford graduated from Clarksville High School in 1955 and attended Austin Peay State University to take several business courses. He was born and raised in Clarksville and enjoys golf, gardening, traveling, and all sports. He attended St. Bethlehem United Methodist Church, where he had been a member since 1956. He was a member of Queen City Chapter #3 R.A.M., the Clarksville Shrine Club, and the Masonic Lodge #761, where he was a 32nd-degree mason. Buford also served in the National Guard for four years.
Mr. Thaxton has been in the insurance business since 1990, when he joined Dunn Insurance Company, Inc. He is licensed in property and casualty, in the business/commercial sector. Before joining Dunn Insurance, he owned and operated several businesses from the late 1950’s, such as The Smart Shop, a ready-to-wear store and laundromat, and then moved to Two Rivers Mall to operate Buford’s Men’s Fashions. Buford got his real estate license in the 1960’s, then in the 1970’s, he opened Sugardaddy’s Disco, and in 1974, he opened a restaurant and lounge called The Camelot.
Funeral service will be held Thursday, December 10, at 2:00 PM, at the Chapel of Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, with Dr. Karen Barrineau and Dr. Betty Merriweather officiating. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 9, from 3:00 to 8:00 PM, and Thursday, December 10, from 10:00 AM until the hour of service, at the funeral home.
Buford is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ann Long Thaxton; two wonderful children, Frank “Butch” (Sheila) Thaxton and Dana (Brad) Crowe, both of Clarksville; two sisters, Linda Earp of Clarksville and Frances Fuqua of Kingston Springs, TN; five precious grandchildren, Paige (Dewight) Thaxton, Chelsea Thaxton, Elliott Thaxton, Jonathan Crowe, and Sean Crowe; and great granddaughter, Emmalyn Lavada Thaxton.
Pallbearers will be Jonathan Crowe, Sean Crowe, Elliott Thaxton, Dewight Thaxton, Jeff Long, and Brad Crowe. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Dority, Ron Morton, Edmond Terrell, Tommy Richardson, Jimmy Schacht, Dickie Seay, Danny Barnes, Dale Ellis, and Harold McElwain.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to National Breast Cancer Awareness (www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-donations); or the Parkinson’s disease Foundation (www.pdf.org/fund_memdon).