Judge Mary A. Buckner, born here in Columbus, Muscogee County, Georgia, one of nine children of Reverend and Mrs. Otis Buckner, attended Carver High School where she graduated in 1966. After graduation she attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia and was one of twenty-four African American students to formerly integrate this private institution in mass. She graduated from Mercer University in 1970, receiving a bachelor of art degree in History and Political Science.

After college and during the summer of 1970, Judge Buckner was selected to participate, along with eleven other African American students from colleges and universities in the Southeast, in a Pre-Law Program funded by the Field Foundation in New York at Emory University Law School located in Atlanta, Georgia. After successfully completing the program, the students were eligible to attend any law school of their choosing during the first year of law school at no cost to them to be paid for by the foundation. Judge Buckner choose Emory University Law School and attended there for the school year 1970-1971. She later transferred to Mercer University, Walter F. George School Law and graduated in 1973 with a juris doctorate degree.

Judge Buckner began practicing law in Columbus in 1975, at a time when there were very few women lawyers. She began practicing with the law firm of Bishop and Hudlin which later became Bishop and Buckner, P.C. in 1978, and continued until 1992 when her partner, Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., was elected to the United States Congress. Judge Buckner is currently in private practice in the law firm of Mary A. Buckner, P.C., located in the historic district at 635 Broadway, Columbus, Georgia.

In February 1984, Judge Buckner was appointed Judge Pro Tem of the Columbus Recorder's Court, becoming the first African American and woman to serve as Judge of Recorder's Court. In 1991, she was appointed by the Council to serve full time, which is the position she holds today.

Judge Buckner's bar affiliations include memberships in the State Bar of Georgia, American Bar Association, National Bar Association, Columbus Bar Association, and Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys.

Judge Buckner's community involvements include being members of the Columbus community center and past president of the board of directers for Columbus Technical Institute, member of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Legal Services Program (GLSP) (past president 1986-1993). She is a member of Mt. Pilgram Baptist Church.

Judge Buckner has received numerous awards and commendations over the years for her involvements which include Operation Push Rosa Parks Award, Who's Who Among Black Americans, Who's Who in American Law and Outstanding Women of America.

Judge Buckner attributes her success to her strong family and religious background. Her advice to others and especially to young people is that a person can achieve any goal with hard work, dedication and commitment. Shoot for the stars!!