By Rebecca Rider

rebecca.rider@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — It’s been 16 years since Vicki Buchanan died, but her sisters of the Laureate Alpha Pi sorority are still honoring her memory.

Buchanan was a longtime member of Laureate Alpha Pi, the local chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, and friend and fellow sorority member Linda Tutterow remembers her as a funny, giving person and a hard worker.

“She was just somebody that you could count on, and you knew she was going to be there,” Tutterow said.

The two met through the sorority in the early 1980s, and were friends until Buchanan’s death in 1999.

“She was just a good person,” she said.

Tutterow said she arrived at the hospital just minutes after Buchanan passed away from Lupus complications.

Since then, the sorority has made a yearly donation to Christmas Happiness in her honor.

Buchanan had two young children when she joined Laureate Alpha Pi, and occasionally worked two jobs, but Tutterow said she was heavily involved in the civic-minded sorority.

“She was there for everything we did,” she said.

Buchanan’s sons are grown now, and Tutterow said that sometimes the chapter donates to a Lupus organization in her honor — but they always make a donation to Christmas Happiness.

The Salisbury Post collects the contributions and the Salvation Army of Rowan County distributes the donations to the Christmas Happiness Fund. Families who qualify receive a voucher for each eligible child. Contributions will be collected through Christmas Day.

Donations may be delivered to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Donations can also be mailed to the Salisbury Post Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, N.C. 28145-4639. Make checks payable to the Christmas Happiness Fund and indicate how you want your donation listed.

Monday’s donations:

• In honor of our teachers: Carl Eagle, Theresa Safrit and Pastor Don Safrit by Messiah Lutheran Church Adult Sunday School $100
• In memory of those who left us this year by David and Betty Alexander $400
• In memory of Cody and Savannah by Nonnie and Grandpaw $100
• In honor of Jennifer Hubbard by Betty Alexander $13
• In honor of my amazing godfather, Rick McCombs by Julie Savannah Kenny $25
• In memory of Kim Laughlin Smith, the voice of North Rowan High by Julie Pinkston  $25
• In honor of the greatest mother, Maw-Maw, mother-in-law and God’s child by Patrick, Linda and Michael Broadway  $100
• Charity League of Salisbury  $500
• In memory of Gene Fleming, Tony Fleming, Cliff Mize, Jeffrey Mize, Sylvia Mize Young and Billy Young. I love and miss you so much, by Ruth A. Fleming  $100
• In memory of Carrol Fisher by the Combs family  $100
• In honor of Tom, Lauren, Colleen, Shawn, Hannaa and Camron by Don Conner  $150
• Ann Powlas  $100
• In memory of Marshall Anthony Sr. and Alicia Catherine Sienther. Love and miss you, by Granny $25
• In memory of Katie H. Morgan by Robert L. Morgan Jr.  $50
• In memory of Loma Kirk Corriher and her love of children by William K. Corriher Jr.  $100
• In honor of Gavin Kirk Bouknight, the great-grandchild that Loma did not see by William K. Corriher Jr.  $50

Total $1,988.00

Running Total $3,693.00

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