Book of Memories for Randall Vaughn "Randy" Buford

Condolence From Duke & Bettina Lackey

Sat, 22 Dec 2012 12:54:33 EST

Our hearts go out to you and we pray that God's peace will surround you and your family.

Condolence From Sabrina Kensinger

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 22:12:15 EST

What a blessing to have seen this young man's talent in West Side Story. Our deepest sympathy for your loss!! He is now an angel watching over you!!

Condolence From Mike Carter

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 11:17:46 EST

John & Mindy- My deepest sympathy and warmest regards.

Story shared: Sundays in the Park

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 02:09:17 EST

Working weekends is a routine part of working in a park. Sunday mornings can sometimes be a quiet time before visitors start showing up for an outing in the afternoon. This is the time to catch your breath from a busy Saturday and enjoy the quiet calm of nature – a pure treasure for those working in a park – a perk of the job. Randy began working for me at Gorges State Park by working on his Eagle Scout project. He completed a horse access area at the park. He and I got along and worked well together. He quickly became like a kid brother to me. He was a kindred spirit. Of course, he did a wonderful job with his Eagle Scout project and so I offered him the opportunity to work that summer as a seasonal employee. It is a good job and a lot is asked of a seasonal, however, it only pays minimum wage and there are few benefits. Regardless, Randy was eager and ready to work. He did everything that was asked of him and then some. In an effort to look out for Randy and take him under my wing, I took him out into the park with me on Sunday mornings. Just as soon as we could get the all the morning ‘chores’ of opening the park done, we would head out – checking trails and looking for wildlife. One morning, we were driving through the middle of the park on a road not used very often. As usual, I was driving and Randy was talking, joking, and demonstrating his skill at sarcasm. As a law enforcement officer, I can fully appreciate and enjoy sarcasm and often laughed at Randy – just like a kid brother. Suddenly, I stopped my park truck in the road and Randy was silent. We had just come upon a mother bear and one cub crossing right in front of us! We were excited, thrilled and shocked at the sighting. We were paralyzed in a moment of awe…watching the two. Oddly enough, we were the first park staff to actually see black bear in the park. We would often see the sign of bear but not the actual bear. Randy and I couldn’t believe our luck of the sighting and that particular moment became our common/shared experience that was unique to us. After that summer, Randy went back to school and I went to work for the sheriff’s office. Every once in awhile over the years, we would run into each other and we always reminded the other one of the mother bear and cub we had seen. Randy also told me about joining the Marines. I know the danger of dedicating yourself to protecting others. And I know the honor in it. I was concerned for Randy but knew he had a heart big enough for the job. I recently returned back to the park and I often think of Randy. I am grateful…so profoundly grateful for our last chance meeting…about 3 weeks before his death. I don’t know how I got so blessed…I didn’t know it at the time. Our meeting was under unfortunate circumstances. I talked to Randy about it. I told him that if he ever needed anything, he could call me. He then told me that working at the park with me was one of the best things he’s done. He told me that he loved the park. I told him that I often think of him (for someone that works with young people, as I often do, I can’t help but wonder how the kids are and if I do makes a difference) and hope that he is doing ok. I also told him that I really enjoyed working with him – I told him he did a great job. Randy and I continued to sit quietly next to each other for a few more minutes. I could’ve left quite a while ago but he was in a serious situation and, he was still my kid brother, I didn’t want to leave right away. In an effort to make me smile, he reminded me of the mother bear and cub. And then he smiled, that Randy Buford/kid brother kind of smile and I couldn’t help myself…I smiled and chuckled…even though the circumstance was heavy(it’s just like Randy to lighten the mood). I felt he would be ok and I knew I had to get up and leave him. He wasn’t 16 anymore. He was 21, a soldier – he could stand on his own. I wished him luck and reminded him to call me if he ever needed to…He gave me his cell phone number and I sent him a text, “Its Ranger Smith. Next time, call someone :-/ Be careful, smart and safe.” That was the last time I saw Randy. When I heard the news of Randy’s passing, I was so shocked that it took awhile for it to sink in. I kept thinking that I had just seen him and we had talked about how great our time was together….yes…I was blessed, we were able to tell each other about it…and we recalled our sighting of the mother bear and her cub. Thank you Randy. Maybe I made a difference in your life…I know you made a difference in mine.

Photo shared: Eagle Scout Project2.JPG

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:50:02 EST

Photo shared: Eagle Scout Project.JPG

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 22:48:13 EST

Condolence From Laurie Creighton Barbee

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 21:35:12 EST

I am so very sorry to hear of your son's passing. Please know you and your entire family are in my prayers.

Condolence From Pat Boller Martin

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 20:10:42 EST

John and Mindy, I pray God wraps his arms around you and comforts you at this time.

Condolence From Jim & Kari Hooks

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:50:37 EST

We are so sorry for your loss. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. In time, we hope that your memories will comfort you.

Condolence From Stan Percival

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 18:12:11 EST

John and Mindy, my prayers go out to you and all of your family. In all my years in ministry, this never comes easy. May the God of mercy and grace be with you always. I was told many years ago, it is not how long you live, but how you live. It sounds like the time Randy had on this earth, he lived life to the fullest. Love and prayers to all of you.

Condolence From Tonya Randall

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 13:15:08 EST

Mindy and John, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family through this heartbreaking time. There's nothing I can say that will ease your pain but I just wanted you to know I am thinking of you.

Condolence From Julie Buzzard

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 09:56:32 EST

I know there are no words at a time of such loss. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.

Condolence From Debby Reynolds (Reitmeier)

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 08:48:38 EST

John and Mindy I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your son, Randy. I pray that God will comfort you during this time. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Photo shared: IMG_20121218_231455.jpg

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 23:21:19 EST

He was so happy and handsome then. I will be forever honored to have been able to be escorted by him that evening.

Story shared: Never far away from the heart

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 16:01:57 EST

Randy and I have been friends since 10th grade, when I started to hang out more with Sophie and her friends. By the end of high school, our friend groups had altered some and we weren’t very close anymore, but we always greeted each other with a big hug whenever we saw each other. During some parts of his life, he was trouble, but that was part of Randy’s appeal. He was the bad-boy front man of the band. He was the hilariously snarky guy who sometimes didn’t know when to quit. He was fun and would do anything once. I have many memories with him, from hanging out at the Brevard Racquet Club to late night talks on the phone, but I’m going to share the three most dear to my heart. We were in 10th grade, it was February, and Randy was turning 16. I knew I wanted to give him something special, so I did something I had never done for anyone before: I made a scavenger hunt. I went over to his house and made him stay in his room while I frantically ran around the house hiding clues and presents. After 15 minutes or so, I went back down to his room and handed him his first clue. “What is this?” Randy asked, confused. “It’s your present! You have to find it,” I said. Randy looked at me with his blueish-green eyes and gave me the biggest and brightest smile I have ever seen. He dashed off to solve the riddles and puzzles, eventually finding the chocolates and other gifts I had hid along the way. In retrospect, it wasn’t a very good scavenger hunt and the steps along the way were kind of lame, but he never said a word about it. After he found the final present, we were alone and he pulled me into a huge bear hug and kissed the top of my head. He pulled away and looked at me very sincerely with those beautiful, piercing eyes. “Allie, no one has ever done anything for me like that before. You are such a good friend and make me feel like I’m worth something. This is the best birthday present I’ve ever had, and I probably won’t get another better. Thank you.” Randy always had a knack for making me blush and feel like a princess. The next year, around mid-December, it was snowing and icy. I didn’t have a 4-wheel drive car, and I was walking down the road to get some fresh air. A jeep whizzed by, stopped suddenly, and reversed. Randy looked out through the window at me and smiled. “Allie! How are you! I haven’t seen you in a while.” Randy said. “I’m good, just walking around to get out of my house,” I replied, smiling. “Want to come with me? Help me decorate my Christmas tree!” There was no way I could say no to Randy. He opened the door for me from the inside and I hopped in. Up the mountain we went, catching up on school and the last few weeks since we’d seen each other last. We didn’t have the same classes or the same lunch, and in high school, that essentially meant we never saw each other. But we talked as if that wasn’t the case, and in no time, we were in his living room facing a bare tree. One by one, we put on well-worn treasures made when he and Dustin were small children in school. We put on new, sparkly ornaments that Randy didn’t like. But the decorating took all afternoon and evening because we kept getting distracted by talking. We told each other some of our deepest secrets and knew the other would keep it. When I finally had to return home, Randy drove slowly down the mountain so we could talk as long as possible. When we finally reached my front door, he walked me to the front door and gave me a hug. I remember being sad to see him go. He always knew how to talk about deep and serious things with me, and it was a side of Randy not many people ever saw. I guess we just clicked as friends, as two people who always had a special place in their hearts for the other. The last time I saw Randy, I drove up to an unfamiliar house that was having a party. I was home in Brevard on break from UNC, and there were a few people I wanted to see who were going to be there. Most of the people at the party I didn’t know, so I didn’t plan on staying very long. As I awkwardly walked up to the front of the house and began chatting with some older acquaintances, a man that I hadn’t noticed before started running and yelling at me. I was so startled I screamed and turned away. When I looked around after a moment, there stood Randy, looking incredibly pleased with himself. I broke into a wide smile and swatted at him, but he just picked me up and gave me a huge hug. It had been at least a year since I had seen him, and not knowing he was going to be at this party, it was a wonderful surprise. I stayed much longer than I had originally intended as Randy and I talked and laughed and played card games. Saying goodbye to him, I knew that there was a chance I would never see him again. He was a Marine about to go on active duty, and there were no guarantees he would come back. We hugged one final time. “Stay safe, Randy. You have to come back to us,” I said, halfway muffled by his jacket. “I will. We need to go cruisin’ around town, like we used to. Remember that?” he asked. “Of course! I loved going to that one gas station that we always went to.” “Yes! That was so much fun. I’ll come back and we’ll do that,” he said. I waved goodbye to him as I drove away, and I can still picture him waving back. Thanks for all the memories, Randy. I miss you. Love, Alie

Condolence From Ellen Horvitz and Marty Nosowitz

Tue, 18 Dec 2012 15:17:52 EST

Dear Buford Family, We are Adam Nosowitz's parents(Dustin's friend). We were so sorry to hear of Randy's passing and our thoughts and prayers are with you. We wish you the strength to make it through each day, and the love and support of your friends and family to help you during this sad time.

Photo shared: Randy_Buford_Photo.jpg

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 19:16:41 EST