Dr. Leslie Cooper (Buck) Buchanan

Dr. Leslie Cooper "Buck" Buchanan, age 91, died Feb. 29th at Budd Terrace, Emory Healthcare, after an extended illness. He was born Feb. 15, 1921, a fifth generation Atlantan (DeKalb Co.), the only child of Ernest Claude and Natalie Cooper Buchanan. A graduate of Boy's High School, he attended Georgia State Evening School, now Georgia State University, before earning degrees from Emory in Chemistry and Emory University School of Medicine in 1946. After an internship at Grady Memorial Hospital, he served two years in the U.S. Navy as a Lt. (j.g.) at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Philadelphia PA and the Naval Ammunition Depot in McAlester OK. He then completed his surgical residences at Emory University Hospital and the V.A. Hospital, located in Chamblee at that time. Dr. Buchanan practiced general surgery in Decatur for 34 years. Upon retiring in 1987, he became Medical Director for the Georgia State Division of Rehabilitation for 2 ½ years and subsequently for 9 years as Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery for Emory University School of Medicine at Grady Hospital. He was a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery. He helped with the planning of the DeKalb Medical Center's opening in 1961, and then served as the first Chief of Staff and later two terms as Chief of Surgery. During the nurse's strike, he helped bring in replacements and mediate a settlement. For 17 years he was a member of the DeKalb Hospital Authority. When the hospice movement was beginning to take hold, he was a founder of the Hospice of the Good Shepard, an all-volunteer group, which for several years ministered to terminally ill patients who wished to die at home. The Georgia Hospice Association recognized him in 1990 as a founder of that organization. He also served as a Director and Treasurer of Blue Cross Blue Shield and as a volunteer physician at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home. Among his medical affiliations were: DeKalb Medical Society (Pres. In 1961), Medical Association of Georgia (Speaker of the House 1973-1980), the AMA, the Georgia Surgical Society, a Director Georgia Medical Care Foundation and the Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons. Although, later attending Westminster Presbyterian Church, he was an active member of North Decatur United Methodist Church for over 50 years, serving in many capacities including Board of Trustees, Lay Speaker and Sunday school teacher. He was also a long time member of the Decatur Rotary Club, BSA Troop 175 Committee and the Gideons. He received the Julius McCurdy Citizenship Award (1974), the A.H. Robins Physician Award for Community Service from the Medical Association of Georgia (1988), and the first Distinguished Service Award from the DeKalb Medical Society (1991). He was happiest doing surgery and was one of a diminishing number of solo practitioners. Dr. Buchanan is survived by his wife of 66 years, the former Mary Turner of Savannah GA., four children: Leslie (and Wayne) New, Mary (and Tom) Gooding, Lynn Gunter, and Bill (and Leslie) Buchanan. Devoted to family, the Buchanans enjoyed many family vacations traveling around the U.S. and Canada. Their five Grandchildren are Thompson and Darby Gooding, Stephanie Judy, Lindsey Kuykendall and Jeremy Gunter. For 12 years they were always ready to go with their grandparents for a Family Adventure Week at Callaway Gardens. Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 3rd, at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel of A. S. Turner & Sons. Interment, Decatur Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Friday, March 2nd at A. S. Turner & Sons Funeral Home & Crematory.

Funeral Home:
A. S. Turner & Sons
2773 North Decatur Road
Decatur, GA
30033