Dr. Clifford Allen "Buddy" Walker, Sr., DMD, 70, of Tifton passed away Tuesday, September 29, 2020, at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, surrounded by his wife and three children. His funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 4, 2020, at the UGA Conference Center Auditorium with the Rev. Chip Grantham officiating. Dr. Walker will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 3, 2020, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church.
Cal Day, Luke Webster, Scott Herzog, Greg Herzog, Zack Gray, Lance Smith, Aaron McCalvin, Bret Bernard, Christian Kozma, and Cameron Kozma will serve as pallbearers.
Born July 16, 1950, in Tifton, Dr. Walker was the son of Roy M. Walker of Tifton and the late Bettye Anne Lee Walker, who passed away August 9, 2020. He was also preceded in death by one brother, Roy M. Walker, II, "Corky"; and one sister, Deborah Ann Walker.
Buddy graduated from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1979 and returned home to Tifton with his wife and three young children. He was a doctor of dentistry and had his own dental practice in Tifton for 41 years. In addition to his practice, he served as a director of Ameris Bank, and he was a member of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church. Through the church he traveled on medical mission trips multiple times to Africa, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Peru. He also served as a youth counselor for the FUMC Youth Group for almost 30 years and taught the senior high Sunday School class for over 25 years. In addition to these activities, Buddy loved music and sang with the FUMC Chancel Choir for more than 40 years and various other small group ensembles.
Dr. Walker is survived by his wife, Vicki Lyle Walker, of Tifton; two daughters, Dr. Brittney Berckman and Max Brown, and Amy and Jelks Warren, all of Tifton; one son and daughter-in-law, Clifford Allen Jr.“Kip” and Morgan Walker of Seattle, Washington. He is also survived by his father, Roy Masten Walker of Tifton, one brother and sister-in-law, Gregory M. and Sharon Walker of Tifton; one sister and brother-in-law, Beth and Glyn McCrary of Valdosta; and eight grandchildren, Charlie Katherine Mullis and husband Lynseay, Daniel Berckman Jr., Amy Lister Brown; Jobe, Elli and Lily Warren; and Calla Mae and Grey Allen Walker.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to the Tifton First United Methodist Church Youth Group, 107 12th Street West, Tifton, GA 31794.