WHEREAS, Mary Ann Gaudette Buffington, whose dedication to Richmond's Church Hill community was strong and steadfast, died on December 15, 2011; and WHEREAS, Mary Ann Buffington was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, and graduated from Manchester West High School; she became a cosmetologist and moved to Charleston, West Virginia, where she met her husband, Bob; and WHEREAS, the couple moved to Richmond, eventually opening Captain Buzzy's Beanery, a coffee shop in historic Church Hill; the entrepreneurial couple also owned Buff's Corner restaurant; both businesses were located on East Broad Street, Church Hill's main thoroughfare; and WHEREAS, Mary Ann Buffington presided over Captain Buzzy's with a positive outlook, a sunny disposition, and a rapier wit, and the store's customers deeply appreciated the owners' endeavors to make the coffee shop a social hub of the community; and WHEREAS, part of what made Captain Buzzy's special was Mary Ann Buffington's homemade desserts and scones; the restaurant's red velvet cake was featured in Virginia Living magazine; and WHEREAS, Mary Ann Buffington's other interests included bird watching, gardening, travel, and watching the Wheel of Fortune television show; she was thrilled when she appeared on the show in 2003 and was the winning contestant; and WHEREAS, Mary Ann Buffington is survived by her devoted husband, Robert S. Buffington II; her stepdaughter Natalie, whom she loved dearly; she will be fondly remembered by other family members, and the many friends, neighbors, and customers of Captain Buzzy's; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a loving wife and dedicated supporter of Church Hill, Mary Ann Gaudette Buffington; and, be it RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Mary Ann Gaudette Buffington as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for her memory. |