Buford Mabry was born and reared on a farm in the Stateburg section of Sumter County, South Carolina, where he attended a one-teacher school through the sixth grade before entering a rural high school. As a youth he tramped the hills of Stateburg and the swamp lands of the neighboring Wateree River; and it is from those experiences in these areas that he has collected the stories which he now shares with us.


In 1998 Buford was the recipient of the South Carolina Folk Heritage Award for excellence in the Traditional Art of Storytelling.

Buford⁹ Mabry descends from James³, (George², Francis ¹ Mabry) who settled in Union County, South Carolina about 1774, three years after his father, George, died in Rowan County, North Carolina. Prior to his retirement, he was Sumter County Superintendent of Schools.

Now, many of Buford's stories have been captured on videotape in their natural settings. The video was written, narrated and directed by Jack Doyle, Professor of English at the University of South Carolina Sumter.

Copies of this video may be obtained by writing to:

Prof. Jack Doyle

28 Park Avenue

Sumter, S.C. 29150

The cost is $15, plus $1.50 for postage and handling.


Feb 2001