Carl W. Buckner, 56, Is Dead on June 27

Carl W. Buckner Sr., 56, a high school teacher credited with “turning around the lives” of countless young people as a counselor and as someone who worked to help the homeless, died on June 27.

Mr. Buckner served until 2003 on an advisory board of directors of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse.

He also served on the advisory board of the Oklahoma City Coalition for the Homeless.

Funeral services were held on July 5 at the Greater Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Rev. J.B. Wallace officiated. Interment was held at Kolb Cemetery. Temple & Sons Funeral Directors handled the arrangements.

Carl Wayne Buckner was born on Oct. 16, 1951, to Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe Buckner Sr.

He graduated in 1969 from Douglass High School in Oklahoma City, and graduated in 1973 from Langston University, having majored in business administration.

Initially, he worked as a computer program analyst, but he then began to work particularly with the homeless and with errant youths.

Working with Youth Services of Oklahoma County, Mr. Buckner was a supervisor of alternative incarceration programs, and was a street outreach services counselor.

He once was director of adult substance abuse services for Care for Change, and had worked as a counselor at Eagle Ridge Institute.

At the time of his death, Mr. Buckner was a teacher at Centennial High School.

His work with young people led to a degree of national fame.

For example, one young person who had been counseled by Mr. Buckner appeared on the “Montell Williams Show,” the nationally-syndicated television talk-show, and credited Mr. Buckner with changing her life for the better.

Also, Mr. Buckner once appeared as a guest to talk about his work with young people on a show hosted by John Benefil that airs on the TBN the religion television network.

Mr. Buckner was baptized at the Nealy’s Temple Church of God in Christ, but he later joined the Divine Guidance Church and then the Church of the Harvest.

His marriage to Linda Anderson Buckner ended in divorce.

Survivors are a daughter, Carla Buckner Kindred; and a son, Carl W. Buckner Jr.

In addition, Mr. Buckner is survived by five sisters, Alice Buckner Hillmon, JoAnn Buckner, Joyce Buckner, Tanya Buckner Wisby and Debra Buckner Ivory.