Milton Ray McFarland

Milton Ray “Buckwheat” McFarland passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on October 19, 2023. He was born on October 30, 1953, in Canton, Mississippi to Hubert Cleo (Red) McFarland and Velda Brown McFarland.

Milton retired from the Jackson Police Department in January 2009 after 25 years of service. Prior to that, he was with the Canton Police Department for nine years. Milton worked hard during his lifetime to provide for his family, often holding down two or three jobs at a time from police work, to driving trucks, providing security, and maintaining a lawn service.

On October 5, 2013, he reunited with his first-grade sweetheart, Susan Kaye Pepper, and they remained together from that day on, marrying in 2018. He was a loving and devoted husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, who loved his family dearly. Milton loved the Smoky Mountains and spent many, many hours driving through Cades Cove and the backroads of Tennessee enjoying the beautiful scenery and watching for bear, deer, and turkey.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Red and Velda McFarland, and his brother, Terry.

Milton is survived by his loving wife, Susan, daughter, Heather Celeste Nelson, sons, David Brian McFarland (Kimberly) and Levi Jace McFarland (Molly), sisters, Vivian Fortenberry (Jerry) and Fay Sudbeck, grandchildren, Beau Nelson (Raigan), Lucas Nelson, Chloe Nelson Harrison (Lee), Mallory McFarland, and great grandson (Kallum Lee Harrison) with a great granddaughter (Millie Raye Harrison) on the way.

Pall bearers include Beau Nelson, Lucas Nelson, Robbie Huff, Mike Cox, Mike Simpson, and Danny Waldrop. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Kidney Foundation https://www.kidney.org/ in Milton’s memory.

Funeral Arrangements:

Visitation 2:00 - 4:00 on Sunday, October 22 at Breeland Funeral Home.

Visitation 10:00 - 11:00 on Monday, October 23 at Thornton Chapel Methodist Church, intersection of Way Road and Davis Crossing Road, Canton, MS 39046 Services at 11:00 in the Church sanctuary with burial to follow in the Thornton Chapel Cemetery.

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