Obituary of Thomas Lawton Buckner, Jr.

Lawton, aka "Tommy", 53, of Lexington, SC passed away peacefully, Thursday morning, December 30, 2021, moving from the arms of his family to the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ.  He was born in Dillon, South Carolina in St. Eugene Hospital on November 10, 1968 to Elizabeth Tolar Buckner and Thomas Lawton Buckner, Sr.  He attended schools in Lexington, SC and Cary, NC. He served three years in the US Army where he earned his jump wings and participated in the invasion of Panama in 1989. He enjoyed building things and became a master carpenter.

Lawton was preceded in death by his birth father, Thomas Buckner, Sr.  He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Briggs,  as well as his “Dad”, Duane A. Briggs, his children; Thomas Lawton Buckner III (Emma), Brooke Ashley Buckner and Jacqueline Elizabeth Buckner. Lawton is also survived by his beloved brother; Miles Stuart Briggs,  niece; Chelsea Elizabeth Briggs, Uncles;  Eugene Buckner, Harvey Cassells, Clyde Prevette and John Calvin Tolar; Aunt  Celia Tolar Bane (John) and his dear former wife, Michelle Rupert Breedlove, with whom he remained good friends.  

He enjoyed a carefree childhood, swimming in the farm pond, riding horses and going to “Cousin Camp” with his 1st cousins every year.  He was active in community theatre musical theatre productions where he met lifelong friend Nicole Griffin Hendrix. He had a lifelong interest in classical music, literature, movies and World War II history.   He was an expert at getting his brother and his friend Lara Hutchison Plocha in trouble, being able to talk them into doing almost anything. Lawton did not consider death his enemy because he was assured of his Salvation through Jesus Christ.  He joined his family in believing that, though we are in a small boat in a stormy sea, Jesus is our Anchor, and The Anchor holds.

Funeral services will be at Hope Church, 2609 Seminole Road, Columbia, SC 29210, at 11:00 AM., Monday,January. 3, 2022. The Rev. Donald Burnett, Jr. will officiate. Burial will be held in Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 1:00 PM, Friday, January 7, 2022.