Buford Stoney Sharp, Sr.

Buford Stoney Sharp, Sr., 84, of Steens, Mississippi passed away Thursday, December 4th at his home surrounded by his family. Buford was a member of Piney Grove Methodist Church in Steens where he faithfully served over the years as the children’s Sunday School teacher, Trustee, and Treasurer of the Piney Grove Cemetery.

Buford was born April 6, 1941, in Columbus, MS to the late Howard Lafayette and Evelyn Bruce Sharp. He graduated from S.D. Lee High School in 1959 and obtained a Business Administration degree in 1964 from Mississippi State University. Buford joined his father and brother at the family business, Sharp and Sons Sporting Goods which was established in 1949. He was a master of all trades and knew how to fix anything and everything, specifically boat motors. Every spring, the shop was a revolving door of boats coming through to get ready for fishing. When the store closed after 50 years in business, Buford began working at Eka Chemicals. His C-89, C-91, and Hydrogen Peroxide coworkers will tell you in a heartbeat that the “old man” could outwork all of them. Buford was the ultimate jokester and made work interesting in the control room. When he retired, he had plenty to do with working on Margaret’s to do lists in between fishing and hunting. He also embraced the role of Pops to his three grandchildren. With patience and kindness, he taught them how to enjoy the outdoors, play long hand Rummy, and the importance of measuring five times and cutting once. Many of Buford’s summers were spent at his two favorite places – the beach and campmeeting at Tabernacle Church Campground. Summer beach trips to Gulf Shores were always a special time – he would spend hours walking the shoreline to find the perfect (and largest) seashells and, if he was lucky, a beautiful sand dollar or two. The annual tradition of making beignets with his sisters was perfected over the years, and the evening card game was always spirited with his joking antics. Buford spent the latter part of summers at Tabernacle Campmeeting in Ethelsville, AL with his family where the after-church card games transitioned to cornhole tournaments with his grandkids in which he still managed to win. His faithfulness to the Lord and his family, along with his positive outlook despite the circumstance, will always be his legacy.

Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Margaret Hays Sharp; daughters Mauri Sharp Waldrep and her husband Daniel, Lauri Sharp Sansing and her husband Ashley all from Steens and son Buford “Stoney” Sharp Jr. of Birmingham, AL; grandchildren Brooklyn Danielle Waldrep of Starkville, MS, Maggie Caroline Sansing and Hays Davis Sansing both of Steens; brother Howard Lafayette Sharp, Jr. (Bettye Clyde) of Columbus, MS; sisters Lillian Sharp Easom and Patsy Sharp Marshall (Jack) both of Brandon, MS; sister in law Mary Winn Hays of Steens; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Hays Sansing, Louis Sharp, Curt Younger, Jeff Hays, James Hays, John Michael Hays, Bubba Wofford, Ed Jordan, and Mark Caldwell.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Leslie Baucom, John Barry, Mendy Mendoza, Buzz Soule, Donnie Jones, Alan Youngblood, Greg Youngblood, and Tim Hudson.

The family would like to express sincere gratitude for the comfort, care, and compassion provided by Dr. Brett Brown; Dr. Rosenblatt, Madison Lawson, Jordan Lee, Laura Jaudon and the rest of the Baptist Hospice team; and caregivers Dee Presley and Brooke Quinn.

Visitation will be Sunday, December 7th from 5:00-7:00 pm and Monday one hour prior to the service at Memorial Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at Memorial Funeral Home on Monday, December 8, 2025 at 11:00 am with officiants Andy Tentoni and Todd Mordecai, vocalist Rev. Vaughn Stafford, and pianist James Allen. Burial to follow at Piney Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Piney Grove Cemetery (P. O. Box 38 Steens, MS 39766) or Tabernacle Church Campground (208 Arrowfeather Drive NE Meridianville, AL 35759).