Sally Montgomery Baskin Buntin May 17, 1947 - September 20, 2022
Sally Montgomery Baskin Buntin passed away on September 20, 2022 at her home in Nashville, Tennessee after battling brain cancer.
Sally was born in Greenville, Mississippi on May 17, 1947. She was the oldest child of John Wilson Baskin and Sally Kirk Baskin. Sally is survived by John Craighead Buntin, her husband of 52 years; her two sisters, Mary Kirk Goehring and Melinda Baskin Hudson; and her two children, John Baskin Buntin (married to Melinda Beeuwkes Buntin, parent of Oliver Beeuwkes Buntin and Thomas Baskin Buntin), and Wilson Sinclair Buntin (married to Wendy Watterson Buntin, parent of John [Jack] Harmon Buntin and Charles [Charlie] Montgomery Buntin.)
Sally grew up in Greenville, MS. As a student at Carrie Stern Elementary School, she made lifelong friends and became an outstanding student, interested in – and kind to – everyone. She spent summers at Camp Longhorn in Texas with her Memphis cousins where she was a popular sailing instructor and counselor. Greenville High School recognized her achievements by awarding her the Joe Weinberg mathematics award, the DAR citizenship award, and the school service award at graduation. She was also voted the “friendliest girl” every year in high school.
In 1965, she entered Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia. She served as the head of the Honor Council her senior year and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1969. During her senior year, Sally met John Buntin at a midwinter’s party at the University of the South. One year later, they were married at St. James Episcopal Church in Greenville, MS.
After the wedding the couple moved to Nashville, where Sally worked for Vanderbilt University. In 1975, the couple moved to Greenville, MS; Sally devoted herself there to raising her two boys. In 1983, Sally entered law school at the University of Mississippi in Oxford where she served as the comments editor for the Mississippi Law Journal. After graduation, she worked for the law firm of Campbell Delong LLP in Greenville and then practiced criminal law in Lake Village, Arkansas.
In the mid-1990s, Sally became a trusts and estate lawyer at the Nashville law firm of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, where she practiced for 10 years. After her retirement, Sally and John divided their time between Sewanee and Nashville, Tennessee.
Sally treasured her husband, her two boys, her daughters-in-law, her sisters and their families, and “the cousins.” Her oldest friend cites her “effervescent, irrepressible spirit” — her unfailing kindness to others, her overflowing joy, and her infectious, constant smile. “Her life was filled with generosity and constant, fascinating conversations that brought delight to everyone. She was a brilliant, steadfast soul, and helpmate to her husband who admired her, adored her, and loved her without bounds.”
Sally’s life was a gift to all of us who were blessed enough to know and love her. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Christ Church Cathedral or to the South Cumberland Community Fund in Sally’s memory.
Funeral services will be held at 3pm this Saturday, September 24, at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Nashville. There will be a visitation at the church at 2 pm. Friends and family members are invited to attend a reception afterwards at the home of John and Melinda Buntin.
Robert Wylie
Sally Montgomery Baskin Buntin
May 17, 1947 - September 20, 2022
Sally Montgomery Baskin Buntin passed away on September 20, 2022 at her home in Nashville, Tennessee after battling brain cancer.
Sally was born in Greenville, Mississippi on May 17, 1947. She was the oldest child of John Wilson Baskin and Sally Kirk Baskin. Sally is survived by John Craighead Buntin, her husband of 52 years; her two sisters, Mary Kirk Goehring and Melinda Baskin Hudson; and her two children, John Baskin Buntin (married to Melinda Beeuwkes Buntin, parent of Oliver Beeuwkes Buntin and Thomas Baskin Buntin), and Wilson Sinclair Buntin (married to Wendy Watterson Buntin, parent of John [Jack] Harmon Buntin and Charles [Charlie] Montgomery Buntin.)
Sally grew up in Greenville, MS. As a student at Carrie Stern Elementary School, she made lifelong friends and became an outstanding student, interested in – and kind to – everyone. She spent summers at Camp Longhorn in Texas with her Memphis cousins where she was a popular sailing instructor and counselor. Greenville High School recognized her achievements by awarding her the Joe Weinberg mathematics award, the DAR citizenship award, and the school service award at graduation. She was also voted the “friendliest girl” every year in high school.
In 1965, she entered Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia. She served as the head of the Honor Council her senior year and graduated Phi Beta Kappa in 1969. During her senior year, Sally met John Buntin at a midwinter’s party at the University of the South. One year later, they were married at St. James Episcopal Church in Greenville, MS.
After the wedding the couple moved to Nashville, where Sally worked for Vanderbilt University. In 1975, the couple moved to Greenville, MS; Sally devoted herself there to raising her two boys. In 1983, Sally entered law school at the University of Mississippi in Oxford where she served as the comments editor for the Mississippi Law Journal. After graduation, she worked for the law firm of Campbell Delong LLP in Greenville and then practiced criminal law in Lake Village, Arkansas.
In the mid-1990s, Sally became a trusts and estate lawyer at the Nashville law firm of Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, where she practiced for 10 years. After her retirement, Sally and John divided their time between Sewanee and Nashville, Tennessee.
Sally treasured her husband, her two boys, her daughters-in-law, her sisters and their families, and “the cousins.” Her oldest friend cites her “effervescent, irrepressible spirit” — her unfailing kindness to others, her overflowing joy, and her infectious, constant smile. “Her life was filled with generosity and constant, fascinating conversations that brought delight to everyone. She was a brilliant, steadfast soul, and helpmate to her husband who admired her, adored her, and loved her without bounds.”
Sally’s life was a gift to all of us who were blessed enough to know and love her. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to Christ Church Cathedral or to the South Cumberland Community Fund in Sally’s memory.
Funeral services will be held at 3pm this Saturday, September 24, at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Nashville. There will be a visitation at the church at 2 pm. Friends and family members are invited to attend a reception afterwards at the home of John and Melinda Buntin.
Crawford Funeral Home
615-254-8200
Rest in Peace, sweet friend