Tonna Lynette Buford Dodd

Tonna Lynette Buford Dodd was born on November 12, 1959, to Lee Edward Buford and Gwendalyn Buford. She passed away peacefully at her home on February 26, 2026.

Tonna accepted Christ at an early age at St. Stephen’s Baptist Church, where she walked every Sunday with her grandmother. As an adult, she remained a faithful member alongside her children. Her life was filled with the love of her family and the joy of raising her children.

She attended W.W. Yates Elementary, Lincoln Junior High, and Manual School before graduating from Northeast High School in 1978. Tonna worked at the United States Postal Service for more than 40 years, a dedicated employee who often said she raised her kids with that job. To her, the post office was more than work; it was a second family.

Preceded in death by her father, Lee Edward Buford, her sister Carla Buford, and Vernon Dodd, Tonna leaves behind her mother, Gwendalyn Buford; her sons Jamon Lamonte Buford and Winston Lee Bowles; her daughter Kiyana LaQuan Dodd; seven grandchildren, Jamon Lamonte Buford II, Kiyshon Nelson, Jamarion Buford, Sarayah Buford, Nakeyia Buford, Khalis Nelson, and Christen Buford; and five great-grandchildren, Noah Buford, Yasir Buford, Jeyli Buford, Eliani Buford, and Khy'Mir Nelson. She is also survived by her brother Lee Edward Buford Jr., Edward L. Buford, sisters JaQulyn Buford and Shanise Abrought, and cherished family members Monica Stephens, Timothy Robertson, and Lance Robertson, along with many cousins she held as close as siblings.

Tonna embraced life with radiant energy, warmth, and a magnetic spirit that drew people to her. She found joy in line dancing, traveling, exercising, and shopping, but nothing compared to the time she spent with her family. Her backyard parties, filled with loud music and laughter, reflected her vibrant personality and generous heart. A devoted mother who balanced a demanding career while ensuring her children had every opportunity, she lived boldly and left behind a legacy of kindness, strength, and compassion that will remain with all who knew and loved her.