Delta “Det”‘s Obituary Delta “Det” M. Buckley Forbus 12 What shall I return to the LORD for all his goodness to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD. 14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants. Psalm 116:12-15 A woman of faith now walks in glory with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Delta (“Det”) M. Buckley Forbus, a longtime resident of Panama City, went home to be with her Lord on February 24, 2019, in Tallahassee, Florida.
Det was born on September 16, 1926, in Kiln, Mississippi, to Alfred Joseph and Eugenia Epps Moran. She was two years old when her parents moved their young family to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, where she grew up. After she graduated from high school, she went to work with Hancock Bank until she married her first love, Milton C. Buckley, in 1947 and they moved to Panama City Beach where together they raised their three children.
After being a homemaker for many years, she and Milton opened and operated Miracle Variety store on the beach for 13 years. They were married for 36 years until his death on February 24, 1983. As the Lord would have it, He called Det home on the same date 36 years later.
In January 1991, Det, still 65 years young, married Robert (“Bob”) Forbus. The blending of their two families welcomed the three Forbus children, their spouses, four grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren during their marriage. Det and Bob loved to travel and throughout their marriage of 20 years they visited all 50 states, some more than once, and many times abroad.
They also took their travel trailer and camped for months in North Carolina or fishing on Lake Okeechobee. A respected and loved member of First Baptist Church of Panama City for over 50 years, she enjoyed serving as a Sunday School teacher to 5-year-olds in her early years, was an active member of WMU, and served at the “clothes closet”. Det loved her Sunday School class and WMU and appreciated her many sisters in Christ who were committed to keep her involved by their visits and cards.
Det was a talented seamstress, loved music, fishing, cooking, and her monthly lunches with the “Birthday Girls”. Det leaves behind her three children, June Buckley of Tallahassee, Milton Buckley (Dianne) of Panama City, and Jan Buckley Levenson (Louis) of Atlanta. She was a proud grandmother to three beautiful granddaughters Breanne Buckley Wood (Blake), Mackenzie Buckley Powell (John), Lauren Danielle Howard (Nicholas); and 4 great-grandchildren, Blakely Wood (11), Wilder Powell (22 mos.
), MaKynley Howard (7 mos. ), and Shepherd Powell (7 mos. ).
She was preceded in death by her brothers Ralph, Reginald, Edgar, and Leo; and her sisters Eunice Bermond, Josie Jacobs, and Carrol Shubert. The blessing of living to a wonderful old age is the ability to see and experience so much; but in doing so Det lost both her husbands, all her siblings, and all her two husbands’ siblings, to death before her death as well. Det was therefore the last living member of her family bloodline.
She is survived by her loving sister-in-law, Tommie Moran (97), and many nieces and nephews. The family especially thanks the staff of Azalea Gardens Special Care Center of Tallahassee and Big Bend Hospice for the loving care and support of Mom and her family through these last few months. Also, many thanks to the patient caregivers that cherished Mom for approximately two years, Covenant Hospice of Panama City, and Mathison Retirement Community.
The family will receive visitors at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 2, at Wilson Funeral Home. A service celebrating the life of Det will follow at 11:00 a.m., officiated by Rev. Clyde Ellison of First Baptist Church of Panama City.
Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1200, Panama City, FL 32402 or Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd. , Tallahassee, FL 32308.
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