Barbara "Barbie" Renee Buckner
DR. BARBARA (“BARBIE”) RENEE BUCKNER, PhD, 52, of Bristol, TN, gained her wings and finally got to fly above the Earth’s atmosphere when she died suddenly at her home and went to be with the Lord on Sunday, December 7, 2025.
She was born August 25, 1973, in Wyandotte, MI, the daughter of James, Jr. & Rita Buckner.
Barbie had a thirst for knowledge and sharing it with others. She graduated as Valedictorian of the Rocky Gap High School Class of 1991. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from Lee University and her Master’s Degree from Tusculum College. Barbie achieved her PhD from the University of Louisville.
Barbie taught at Bradley Central High School for 21 years where she also served as Student Counsel sponsor and in 2007 was named the East Tennessee Grand Division Teacher of the Year.
She received the 2013-14 Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship and served as an Education and Human Resources, Office of the Assistant Director at National Science Foundation (NSF). Barbie then went on to work as an Educator Professional Development Specialist at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center.
Barbie was currently a Community Engagement Coordinator at NASA Langley Research Center and Adjunct Faculty member at Bryan College, Lee University and Louisiana State University.
She spent numerous summers volunteering at Church of God Youth Camps in VA, GA, NC, OH and TN where she touched the lives of thousands of children.
Those who knew Barbie admired her brilliance, her humility, and her unwavering love for the Lord. Her faith in Jesus Christ guided every step of her journey and shone through in the way she treated others with kindness, grace, and compassion. She will be greatly missed by those who loved her.
Barbie was preceded in death by her grandparents, James (“Motendee”) Buckner and Lula Sloan Harden and Frank, Jr. (“Wimpy”) and Elizabeth (“Neg”) Williams Bradshaw.
Left to cherish her memory are her parents, James M., Jr. & Rita Gail Bradshaw Buckner, Bland, VA; her sisters, Hope Buckner Cimino (Tim), Bluff City, TN, and Jenny Buckner, Bland, VA; her niece, Faith Yonce Sullins (Dylan), Bristol, TN; her nephew, Samuel Yonce (Mikaylee), Cape Carteret, NC; special great-niece by heart, Chelsea Sullins; her 5 great-nephews, the light of her world, Frankie Sullins, Mo Yonce, Finn Sullins, Gideon Yonce and Fitz Sullins; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, special friends, former students and colleagues from around the world.
The family will receive friends in visitation at Bastian Church of God on Friday, December 12, 2025 from 4:00P.M. until 7:00 P.M.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. at the Bastian Church of God with Pastor Cliff Bowman and Dr. Travis Bradshaw officiating. Burial will follow in Shiloh Cemetery where the Civil Air Patrol will provide Color Guard rites.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made in Barbie’s honor to The Association for Rural & Small Libraries, https://arsl.memberclicks.net/index,php?option=com_mcform&view=ngforms$id=2051390#/ or the Civil Air Patrol National, https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/giving.
The Buckner family is in the care of A. Vest & Sons Funeral Home, White Gate, avestandsons.com, (540) 921-2985.
