Phoebe R. (Garner) Buchanan

In Celebration of Phoebe Buchanan

Phoebe R. Buchanan joined us on December 18th, 1943.   She was raised by Alfred and Dazzella Garner with a host of siblings which she nurtured and cared for throughout her life.

As a daughter, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother (Nana) and friend, she lived to protect, guide, teach and nurture.  Her disposition was of strength, heart, spirit and tenacity and true grit because she was always wanted give at 110% when she championed for her family and friends. Her strong work ethic was what she instilled in her family, along with the art of negotiation and finding a good deal. Phoebe always worked to help you find a solution to your problem. Although her love could sometimes feel tough, her bark was always bigger than her bite.

Phoebe spent younger years playing softball which she enjoyed immensely. Like most eldest siblings, she took care of and spent time with her sisters and brothers and with her grandmother, Johnnie Lee Knox.  Her love and talent of cooking came from her grandmother. Her signature spaghetti and bbq chicken will be greatly missed. As they used to say, “burn in the kitchen and bake!”  Johnnie Lee was her rock. She instilled in Phoebe the values of life and the importance of life, how education and God were the guiding principles. 

Phoebe excelled in education throughout her life.  Her formative years were spent growing up on Somers Drive in the Hill District. She attended McKelvy, Miller and Vann Elementary Schools from 1950-1956. Herron Hill Middle School 1956-1958. Elizabeth Seton School 1958-1959. And she graduated from Fifth Avenue High School June 13, 1962. She was a scholar and completed her college credits at The University of Pittsburgh through the New Careers program, attending with her mother Dazzella and her Aunt Patricia Thomas. 

She started her professional career with Travelers Insurance Company and then with the Kroger’s Food, working at various stores serving in multiple roles and capacities. She then went on to accept a position with the Federal Government as a Community Development Liaison, then with Title One and finally at the U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development (HUD) as a Senior Equal Opportunity Specialist. She worked tirelessly to ensure that women, minorities, the disabled, and the financially disadvantaged had the opportunity for fair housing and home homeownership. She was a huge player in the revitalization of the Manchester Community, and eventually, she retired from the federal government giving them 35 years (1980-2015) of dedicated service.

Phoebe was proud of her education and career, but her greatest pride was her daughter, only to be matched by the birth of her granddaughter.  Phoebe, otherwise known as “nana,” loved her girls. She instilled her values in them as they grew and developed into successful women. During retirement, Phoebe enjoyed playing a good game of cards, sitting on the porch listening to music, smoking her cigarettes and offering advice.  She was the matriarch of the family.  She felt it very important to be there for all of the family and to protect her family and friends.  Phoebe loved challenging others, especially APPLE and Donald Trump! 

If you talked to Phoebe frequently, you knew that she was political and cared about the issues around the climate of America. Most of her conversations were always around Donald Trump and getting a new resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in 2021.  During her hospital stays she would get so excited that Joe Biden won the race and for the first time in history a black woman will occupy the Vice Presidency.  She connected us with the world, and she ensured that the family always stayed close.

Phoebe R. Buchanan is survived by her daughter Tiffany Buchanan, granddaughter Jordan, sisters Yvonne, Linda, and Margaret, nieces LaChelle and Margarite, nephews Duane Jr. and DeVaughn, great-nieces and nephew LaTauja, Daeja, and Kawama, and great-great nephews Anthony and Lenell.

Phoebe R. Buchanan you will be truly missed, but never forgotten by her loved ones and friends that she touched so much.

Family and friends received Sunday 1-6 PM at the Readshaw Funeral Home, Inc. 1503 Brownsville Road. Carrick.

In keeping with the CDC guidelines, masks are to be worn and social distancing is
to be practiced.

Funeral Service will be private.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phoebe R. (Garner) Buchanan, please visit our floral store.