Buchanan memorial service Sunday

02-05-2005

Andrew Wood Buchanan, former minister of Sylacauga First Presbyterian Church, died Feb. 3 at Coosa Valley Nursing Home following a lengthy illness. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Sylacauga Sunday, Feb. 6, at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Jim Stanford officiating. The family will receive guests at Radney Smith Funeral Home Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. Andy, as he was known by all, spent 50 years in the ministry, including pastorates in Sylacauga, Cartersville, Ga., and Rutherfordton, N.C., as well as the Edgewood Presbyterian Church in Columbus, Ga. During his retirement years, he continued to participate in renewal work with Presbyterian Renewal Ministries International. In addition to this pastoral and renewal work, Dr. Buchanan was also the author of several books, including "You Are Welcome Holy Spirit, You are Welcome," "A Heart Walk With God," and "Making Disciples out of Church Members." The Rev. Dr. Buchanan was born on Feb. 21, 1929, in Americus, Ga. After his childhood on the family farm, he pursued God’s call on his life to join the ministry by attending Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C., and then Columbia Seminary in Atlanta, Ga. During his time in seminary, he met and eventually married Dorothy Ann Holcomb of Goodwater, who became his lifelong companion, partner in ministry and sweetheart. Together they spent 50 years of married life. Together they "put their hand to the plow" sowing and harvesting the fields of God’s kingdom (Luke 9:60). Dr. Buchanan’s work as a pastor showed his deep love, care and concern for people. He once wrote the following of church work, which shows his heart’s direction: "It is not a new program or a new witnessing approach we require so much as it is the heart of Jesus for a dying, broken world and a heart for God who called Jesus to his cross, because he calls us to ours today." Along with his lifelong pursuit of work as a pastor, Dr. Buchanan also had a lifelong love and pursuit of learning. This quest led him to continue his education during his time as a minister. New degrees included a Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh in Edinburgh, Scotland, and a Masters in Counseling from San Francisco Theological Seminary. Dr. Buchanan’s daughter, Faith Skiles of Pilot, Va., said as her father’s death was approaching, his 5-year-old granddaughter, Hannah Buchanan, exclaimed with excitement to her mother, Karen, "Mom! Do you know that Papaw’s almost in heaven? Tell me again, what are the streets made of?" She answered, "He is there now and praising God on the streets of gold." Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Dorothy Ann Holcomb Buchanan of Sylacauga; daughters, Mary Love Hendrickson and husband Rob of Sylacauga, Faith Skiles and husband Barry of Pilot. Va.; one son, Robert Buchanan and wife Karen of Elkton, Va.; two sisters, Louise Lansford and Marjorie Buchanan of Americus, Ga.; and 10 grandchildren, Heather, Rob and Joey Hendrickson, Jeffrey, Joshua, Dorothy and Christopher Skiles and Ian, Hannah and Karis Buchanan. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, N.C., 28607, or the Evangelical Church of Elkton, where his son Robert is pastor, 2850 Panorama Dr. Elkton, Va., 22827. Please memo checks in memory of Andy Buchanan. You may contact the family at www.radneysmith.com. Radney Smith Funeral Home in Sylacauga will direct the service.

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