James Roy Hereford

Services for retired Sgt. 1st Class James Roy "Buzz" Hereford, 73, of Killeen will be at 12:30 p.m. Friday at Crawford Bowers Funeral Home Chapel in Killeen with the Rev. Roy T. Sampson officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Central Texas State Cemetery at 2p.m. in Killeen.

The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

Mr. Hereford died April 8, 2011, at a Temple hospital.

Known as "Buzz," he was born Feb. 25, 1938, in Henry County, Virginia the oldest of four children of the late James and Elsie Hairston Hereford. His formative years were spent in Martinsville, Va., before his family moved to Rankin, Pa.
After his graduation from Rankin High School, the young Hereford initially spent a year in the U.S. Navy Reserves before joining the U.S. Army.

Mr. Hereford's military training took him to Fort Jackson. S.C., and Fort Sill, Okla., prior to a tour in the Vietnam War, a year in South Korea, two assignments to West Germany and several stateside assignments.

While in Vietnam, Mr. Hereford was awarded the Army's second highest medal for gallantry, the Silver Star, along with the Vietnam Service Medal with four bronze service stars, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with palm. His military awards also included the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Good Conduct Medal with the bronze clasp and four loops, the National Defense Service Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.

After Mr. Hereford, returned from Korea, he met then his wife, the former Rosa Lee Shaw of Kingstree, S.C.,in 1962, while she was a teacher in Martinsville. They were married July 18, 1963, in Washington, D.C., while he was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash.

On April 27, 1975, Hereford retired from the Army at Fort Hood. He initially earned his associate degree in general studies at Central Texas College and later his bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
Mr. Hereford became a teacher and was loved by his former students and co-workers at Fairway Middle School and West Ward Elementary School. As Coach Hereford, his Fairway football team was a powerhouse - many of his players went on to play college and professional football. As a teacher, he encouraged his students' participation in an annual state-wide social studies competition.

He retired in 1998 from Killeen Independent School District, but yet returned from time-to-time to work as a substitute teacher. As a member of the American Legion, he sponsored high juniors and seniors' participation in the National Boys' Nations Competition.

Mr. Hereford was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9191, in which he would volunteer to feed the poor on holidays. He was also a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Kappa Sigma Lamba Chapter in Killeen and the financial officer and a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 223 in Killeen.

Mr. Hereford also received his pastor's license from True Hands of Hope International Ministries, where shortly thereafter, he found himself being appointed senior pastor of Independent Missionary Baptist Church in Rosebud. He had to resign that position in late 2010 after experiencing serious, but sustaining medical problems brought about by diabetes.
Though Mr. Hereford struggled with these medical problems, it didn't stop his desire to travel to be with his children and grandchildren out of state. Buzz was a man of few words, but he had a very big heart when it came to taking care of his wife, children, grandchildren, in-laws, friends and neighbors. He was a hero to many who knew him and he will surely be missed.
His survivors include his wife, Rosa Lee Hereford of Killeen; a daughters, Lisa Shockey (Patrick) and her two children; Ashley Shockey and Taylor Shockey, all of Killeen; and a daughter, Linda Townsend of Lancaster, S.C. who has 10 children: Deandrea Poston, Kenneth Poston, Edweena Poston, Christian Poston, James Howe, Jazzmen Howe, LaDavian Howe, Diamond Greer, Paul Townsend and Zoey Townsend; and four great grandchildren, Kennedy Poston, McKenzie Poston, Deandrea Poston Jr. and Heavenly Easton. Survivors also include a brother, Baylor Gordon Hereford of Euclid Ohio; a sister, Mary Maguerite Greene of Euclid; three special nieces Kathrina "Khadi" Preddy, Sylvia Shaw Ireland and Priscilla Shaw; and a host of others.

Mr. Hereford was also preceded in death by a brother, Arthur "Artie" Hereford; his maternal grandparents, Gordon and Mary Hairston; and paternal grandparents, Baylor and Grace Hereford.

Donations may be made to the American Diabetics Association.

Arrangements under the direction of Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home, Killeen, TX.