Mrs. Terri Jane Buckner, a retired school teacher
and previous owner of the Central Funeral Home partnership and life-long
resident of Manchester, TN, died in her sleep on June 10, 2021. Terri is
survived by her mother Thelma “Jane” Chambers; brother, Roger Chambers;
special niece, Raegan Chambers; special nephew, Grant Chambers; and many
other close family members. She was preceded in death by her father
“Johnny” Wayne Chambers and her husband, Finis “Randy” Buckner. Terri was
born in Manchester, TN, on December 6, 1958 to Jane Chambers and the late
Johnny Chambers. She attended and graduated from Coffee County High School
where she was a basketball cheerleader and a softball player for a
tournament team and valedictorian of her graduating class. She continued
her education at Tennessee Tech University and received her Bachelor’s and
Master’s degrees in Elementary Teaching. She started her teaching career at
Tracy City High School and Pelham Elementary, then continued on to College
Street Elementary School. Terri concluded her 35 year teaching career at
College Street where she enjoyed helping students realize their reading
potential, decorating her classroom with crazy pens, and participating in
school events. She met her late husband, Randy Buckner, at the beginning of
her teaching career and they married on August 12, 1981. Terri later
attended John A. Gupton College where she received her funeral director and
embalming licenses and graduated as Valedictorian of her class. Terri,
along with her husband Randy, established Central Funeral Home in
Manchester after her licensure. She was also a member of Red Hill Church of
Christ. Terri spent most of her time devoted to her late husband Randy
Buckner and their funeral home, however in their spare time, they enjoyed
traveling, searching for unique antiques, spending time with family, and
helping their community in any way possible. Both were avid entertainers
and inseparable together. Terri was a unique, intelligent, and interesting
woman often taking pictures yet avoiding the camera herself, doing yard
work such as mowing, and spending time with her dogs. She will be
remembered by her loved ones as a generous, loving person who loved to love
and be loved; a person with a quick wit and infectious laugh and smile. In
her last years, similar to her late husband, Terri suffered a long battle
with cancer and died peacefully in her home surrounded by family and
friends. Visitation with the family will be Saturday, June 12, 2021, from
9:00am until 12:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral
services will be conducted immediately following visitation at 12 noon in
the chapel of Central Funeral Home with entombment at Rose Hill Memorial
Gardens to follow. The family of Terri Buckner wishes to extend our sincere
thanks to Hospice Compassus, Dr. VanMorris, Dr. Goodman, and other
healthcare workers and family members who made her last days most
comfortable. In the interest of the funeral home, the family asks that
donations be made to plant a Memorial Garden in memory of Terri at Central
Funeral Home for future families to enjoy. Central Funeral Home is serving
the family, 931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com
