JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Clifford Grady "Buddy" Whiddon, Jr., 78, son of Clifford Grady Whiddon, Sr. and Cora Louise Buchannan Whiddon, passed away in Johnson City, Tenn. on New Year's Eve, Dec. 31, 2009, at the Johnson City Medical Center from a heart attack. He was 78.

Buddy, as he was known to his family and friends, at the most went by C.G. Whiddon in his correspondence. Born in Chula (Tift County) July 18, 1931, he attended Tifton High School (Class of 1948), and played the drums in the Blue Devil Band. He attended Abraham Baldwin Junior College in Tifton (general studies) and then Georgia State University in Atlanta (marketing and management).

As a staff sergeant in the United States Air Force, Buddy served as an administrative supervisor from 1951 through 1954. During his time in the service he married high school sweetheart Katherine Linton Wadley. After the service they returned to Atlanta where he became a well-respected traveling sales representative for lumber and building materials companies, including Georgia Pacific, Champion Building Products and Woodford Plywood.

Many family holidays to Sanibel and Captiva, Fla. were so treasured that they moved to Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; however, it was after divorce from Katherine that Buddy moved to Tallahassee, Fla. It was as a result of his continuing traveling sales career that he and Johnson City native Theresa Luchini met, and after a traveling and long-distance courtship, Buddy retired to beautiful eastern Tennessee and they were married. A resident of Johnson City, Tenn. for more than 20 years, he was a member of the Central Church of Christ.

Even though he was retired his love for working with and being around people got him out selling again advertising for WETB radio. He was known for his sense of humor, corny jokes and distinctive laugh. He loved to sing and was a tenor in the Harvey Family Quartet for 20 years of the gospel quartet's 70-year history.

Survivors include his wife, Theresa Harvey Luchini Whiddon; two daughters, Melissa Whiddon Luby and Priscilla Whiddon-Bunn, both of Alexandria, Va.; two stepsons, Mark Luchini, of Johnson City, Tenn. and Aaron Luchini, of Huntsville, Ala.; one sister, Elizabeth Whiddon Corry, of DeBary, Fla.; four grandchildren, James J. Luby Jr., Elizabeth Marguerite Luby, Katie Luchini Bowers and Jonathan Angelo Luchini.

A funeral service was held at the Morris-Baker South Chapel on Jan. 3, followed by committal services at the Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City, Tenn. (Carter County) on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2010.