By Andy Ann
On Tuesday, Dec. 6 the Floyd Buckner Building ribbon cutting ceremony was held in honor of the late Floyd Buckner. The building is the new Taxpayer Service Center, located at 118 Benson Street. Those in attendance spoke highly of Floyd Buckner and his passion to serve Colleton County to the very end. It was mentioned how fitting it was to have his name on the building that will serve the community he loved so much.
Colleton county native, Floyd Buckner was born in 1941 and was a son of the late Eddie Buckner and Justine Capers Buckner. He passed away in July 2011 after a six-year-long difficult battle with cancer. He was loved by and is missed by so many in the community.
Buckner graduated from the former Ruffin High School in 1960. He later attended Benedict College in Columbia, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964. Later in 1970, he obtained a master’s degree in education from South Carolina State University.
Buckner served as a parent, teacher, principal and leader for all of Colleton County. He also served as the director of Colleton County School District’s Title I Program, ensuring that Title I funds were spent properly.
Buckner was a man of influence as a mentor and a role model for others. He worked with various programs to benefit school children and served on multiple boards and other committees for the city, county, and state of South Carolina.
He was also a pathbreaker in Colleton County and Walterboro. He was the first African American to serve as a bank board director, a member of the Walterboro-Colleton Airport Commission, owner-publisher of the first African American newspaper in Colleton County, president of the Arabian Temple #139, Walterboro Shrine Club, to be elected to Colleton County Council, to chair the county council and the first to win a run-off election in the county.
Buckner was also the first to have a Colleton County government building to bear his name. Unfortunately, in April of 2020, a tornado damaged the original Floyd Buckner Building at the corner of Washington Street and Jefferies Boulevard. The building formerly held the Colleton County school district offices. The building was deemed a total loss and had to be demolished.
Buckner made it his life mission to give the gift of service for the residents of Colleton County and he strived for progress, growth and the betterment for all, no matter who they were. Black or white, it made no difference to him for he never saw them for their color, but rather for what was in their heart.
Buckner’s son, Dwayne Buckner, joined by other family member, friends, Colleton County board members and guests joined together in celebrating his life achievements in his loving memory as they dedicated the new taxpayer service center through a ribbon cutting ceremony.
