Ms. JaQuaya Denise Buford

BUFORD, Ms. JaQuaya Denise - Age 43, passed away Saturday, May 4, 2024 at Hurley Medical Center. Memorial Service will be held on 4:00 PM Friday, June 14, 2024 at Hasselbring Community Center, 1002 W. Home Ave. JaQuaya Denise Buford was born April 7, 1981, in Flint, Michigan, the daughter of Willie James Buford and Karen Price. JaQuaya graduated from Flint Northern High School, “Class of 1999” and was currently a doula, with aspirations of becoming a Certified Midwife. She was a long-time employee of the Mass Transit Authority (MTA) beginning in 2013 and was much loved by all of her colleagues. During her time at MTA, she served as a bus operator as well as a union representative. She was recently hired to work full-time with the ASCME union and was looking forward to using her experience as union representative in her new role. JaQuaya loved to spend time with her children, friends, and grandson. Although singing and dancing were not her strong suit, she loved performing and having fun. She also enjoyed knitting/crocheting, a hobby she learned from her mother, exercising, reading, hanging with her dogs, and watching movies. She spent the past few years discovering different aspects of spirituality and shared that information with her loved ones. JaQuaya Denise Buford leaves to cherish her memory: her beloved children, LeTrelle (22), JaQaila (20), and JaNelle Walker (17); father, Willie James Buford, all of Flint MI; brothers, Trevor (LaToya) Buford of Douglassville, GA, Derry (Angela) Buford of Eudora, AK, sisters, Riana (JP) Buford of Upper Marlboro, MD, Kanayko Buford of St. Louis, MO, and Sharonda Sumner of Houston, TX; three bonus children, Ty’Kese Billingsley (21), Dacarion (16) and ZaRyah Walker (14); grandson, Luke (9 months); grandmother, Barbara Buford, all of Flint, MI; best friends, and her children’s god-mothers, Aletha (Clenton) McDaniel of Flint, MI and Tia Morgan of Indianapolis, IN; JaQuaya was the loving aunt to 15 nieces and nephews, Demetrius, Keion, Jasmine, Caress, Trevor Jr., Miguel, Jamila, Nickolas, Jacari, Tayshaun, Markell, Aaren, Karen, Dante’, and Bry’Lee; a host of other relatives and friends including the mothers of the bonus children, D’Antonina and Ashanti; loving cousins, Jazmaine, Harrisha, Corey; and friends, Micah, Adrian, Emmanuel, Vincent, Wayne, John, Trina, Toi, Mia, Quayera, Dominisha, Marketia, Crystal, and Darryl, all of Flint, MI. JaQuaya was preceded in death by her mother, Karen Denise Price; nephew, Deondrae Buford; grandmother, Helen Price; grandfather, Willie B. Buford; uncles, Donald Price, Kenny and Alvin Buford; and cousin, Qe’Turah Jones. The family would like to express special thanks to the Hurley Medical Center Pediatric ICU team including nurses Tiffany, Tammy, Stephanie, and Sarah.

Ms. JaQuaya Denise Buford

April 7, 1981 - May 4, 2024