Carolyn Faye "Big Mama" Buckley, age 84, passed away Tuesday, June 02, 2026 at Trend Nursing and Rehab in Meridian.

Funeral services will begin at 3:00 pm on Thursday, June 04, 2026 at Newton County Funeral Home - South, with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in Sand Springs Baptist Cemetery. 

She was a lifelong resident of Newton County and was a graduate of Hickory High School. She was employed with the Hickory School System until her retirement. She was a Christian by testimony of her faith and will be remembered for the love that she had for family. Big Mama will be missed by those who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Alex "Billy" Buckley, one son, Gary Allen Buckley, and one grandson, Stephen Kyle Buckley, and her parents, George Leon and Mattie Lee Randles Cape.

Survivors include two sons: William Steve (Gina) Buckley, of Little Rock; and Terry Leon (Michelle) Buckley of Decatur; one daughter: Sherry Caroline (Robby) Roncali of Chunky; three grandchildren: Destinee White (T.J.), Kelsee Cleveland (Jacob), and Kasie Espey (Dalton); two step-grandchildren: Colton Roncali (Faith) and Cody Roncali (Sydney); five great-grandchildren, Ruger and Wilder Espey; Hayden White, and Gunner and Hayes Roncali; one daughter-in-law, Iris Cockrell Buckley of Chunky; one brother: George Terry Cape (Sharon) of Brandon and two sisters, Joan Griffin (Thomas) of Pachuta, and Dale Wilson (Herb) of Meridian; several nieces and nephews also survive.

Pallbearers will be Cody Roncali, Colton Roncali, Mike Butler, Michael Cape, Joseph Buckley, Jacob Cleveland, Dalton Espey, and T.J. White.

An online guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.newtoncountyfuneralhome.com