Dr. Doris Bernice Buchanan

"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

Dr. Doris Bernice Phillips Buchanan entered the earthly realm on March 06, 1944, when borne to the late Deacon Leroy Phillips (a former Chairman of the Deacon Board at New Hope Baptist Church in Griffin, Georgia), and the late Mrs. Ruby Beatrice Bankston Phillips (a former member of the Mother Board at New Hope Baptist Church). Dr. Buchanan accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age, and she was raised as an active, contributing member of New Hope Baptist Church, alongside her siblings.

A native of Griffin, Georgia, Dr. Buchanan matriculated in local schools, and she is an alumna of Fairmont High School. Dr. Buchanan, additionally, is a valedictorian graduate of Beulah Heights Bible College, and she completed graduate work at Andersonville Baptist Seminary, where she earned a doctorate in Theology. She also studied at Luther Rice University and Seminary, and Mercer University.

Dr. Bernice Phillips Buchanan, the beloved wife and co-laborer of the late Rev. Dr. W.J. Buchanan, invested tirelessly in the lives of multitudes, including her own, which fueled deposits made by her throughout her God-ordained, ordered, purposeful life, which the Good Lord entrusted her to punctuate.

A celebrated mother, long-time advocate for children, and a skilled elementary schoolteacher who absolutely loved and thoroughly enjoyed sharing knowledge and modeling expected outcomes -- Dr. Buchanan seriously undertook the various, nuanced roles to which she was called, including student athlete in basketball during high school; Miss Fairmont High; military spouse; international traveler; businesswoman (as Founder/Executive Director of BB Enlightenment Academy); organizer; visionary (including as originator/director of The Sunbeam Choir at New Hope Baptist Church); leader in corporate business; steward; mentor; friend; choir participant; community volunteer (as a member/officer of the Kelsey Board of Trustees and beyond); and spiritual guide to precious vessels met, nurtured, and befriended prior to, during and following her late husband's decade-plus pastoral tenures at China Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Turin, Georgia; and The Carpenter's House Word Ministry in Griffin, Georgia. Together, they planted in ministry for more than 25 years; realizations of their plantings persist, by God's Grace.

Dr. Buchanan is predeceased by her late husband, the Rev. Dr. W.J. Buchanan. Also preceding her were her parents: the late Dea. Leroy Phillips and the late Mrs. Ruby Beatrice Bankston Phillips; and a sister: Mrs. Maxine Phillips Barkley (the late Aaron).

Dr. Buchanan is survived by four adult children, each of whom experienced the love and devotion she and the late Rev. Dr. W.J. Buchanan were overjoyed to share and express: Mrs. Carmel F.B. Benton (Col. (R) Gus II); Mr. Zachary T. Buchanan (Mrs. Marie); Ms. Susan M. Buchanan; and Ms. Sonya M. Buchanan. Also surviving Dr. Buchanan are four adult grandsons: Mr. Corey D. Benton (Mrs. Alexandria); Mr. Justin T. Buchanan; USA CWO2 Brandon L. Buchanan; and Mr. Robert J. Collins, II; and third-generation descendants. Additionally, Dr. Buchanan is survived by an abundance of paternal and maternal relatives of her late husband and of her own, including Rev. Freddie Phillips (Mrs. Frances), Mrs. Helen Phillips Bailey (the late SFC (R) Wilbur), Rev. John A. Phillips (Mrs. Delores), Mr. J. Perry Phillips (Mrs. Christine), Mr. Tommie L. Phillips, and Ms. Mona Lisa Phillips Jackson.

Visitation with the family will be on Friday, October 03, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Conner-Westbury Funeral Home in Griffin, Georgia. The funeral service will be on Saturday, October 04, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at New Hope Baptist Church in Griffin, Georgia, with Bishop Antonio Sewell presiding. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery in Griffin, Georgia. The repass will then be held in the Family Center of Conner-Westbury Funeral Home.

To God Be The Glory.