Buford Wickliff Mcrae, Jr.

Buford Wickliff McRae, Jr., 86, of Valdosta, died at his home on Tuesday, July 24, 2007. Born in Brooks County, Georgia on November 5, 1920, he was the son of the late Nora Griffin McRae and Buford Wickliff McRae, Sr. Mr. McRae was educated at Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia, where he received a B.A. in Economics/History and a B.S. in Biology/Psychology; the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa where he received his Masters Degree in Political Science. He attended the U.S. Armed Forces Institute where he studied Public Finance and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces where he studied Field Economic Mobilization and Emergency management of The National Economy.

Mr. McRae was a Gunnery Instructor in Harlingen, Texas, during WWII while serving his country with the Army Air Corps from 1941- 1945. His career in public service included serving as Executive Assistant of the Tennessee Conservation Department and the Kentucky State Parks Department. He was employed as City Manager for the cities of Jackson, Alabama; Jacksonville Beach, Florida; Valdosta and Thomasville, Georgia. He was well known as County Manager for Lowndes County, Georgia, and Planning Consultant for the South Georgia Regional Development Center. As a licensed Real Estate Salesman, his career encompassed Subdivision Development, Mortgage Sales, Credit Manager, Real Estate Sales and Advertising. Mr. McRae was a licensed airplane pilot. He held memberships in the International City/County Management Association, Smithsonian Associates, The American Quarter Horse Association, The National Geographic Society, The National Rifle Association, the Valdosta Kiwanis Club, and was a Fellow in the International Kiwanis Club serving the children of the world.

Survivors are his wife of 65 years, Nita Lacey McRae of Valdosta; daughters, Mara McRae of Atlanta, Claire McRae of Atlanta, son and daughter in law, Morgan Stuart and Jacqueline McRae of Atlanta; brother and sister in law, Russell G. and Mary Lou McRae of Valdosta; sister in law, Betty Ellis of Tallahassee; six grandchildren, Emily and Julia Logan of Atlanta, Maxwell, MacKenzie, Kendall and Connor McRae of Atlanta; numerous nieces and nephews. A sister, Ann McRae McCord of Florida, preceded him in death.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, July 28, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or to Hospice of South Georgia. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at obituaries at www.mclanefuneralservices.com.



Funeral Home:
Carson McLane Funeral Home
2215 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA
US 31602