Johnney R. Buckley

Funeral services were held Sept. 29, 2023, at Bell Branch Baptist Church, New Orleans, La., for Johnney Ray Buckley, 77, who died Sept. 5 at St. Bernard Nursing Home and Rehabilitation, New Orleans. Elder Kevin Williams officiated, with interment following on Sept. 30 at Oak Ridge Baptist Church, New Hebron. Johnson Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Buckley was born to the late Frank and Mae Nell Berry Buckley in New Hebron. He joined Oak Ridge Baptist Church at a young age. His parents moved to New Orleans, and he attended Orleans Parish schools, graduated from George Washington Carver Senior High School, Class of 1965. He later attended Xavier University and Dillard University before joining the United States Army where he served during the Vietnam War.
He began his musical career as a teenager playing the piano and organ at various churches throughout New Orleans. He formed the group called the Gospelodiums. After returning from Vietnam, he relocated to Washington, D.C., where he worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and was a pressman at the Washington Post until retirement.
He became a musician for various churches throughout the Washington, D.C., area and traveled across the country as a member of the Myrna Summers Singers. He was a member and musician for the dynamic Union Temple Young Adult Choir, as well as faithful member of the Gospel Music workshop of America.
Mr. Buckley returned to New Orleans in 2012.
He is survived by his sister, Ora Faye Buckley Williams; brother-in-law, Joe Williams; nephew, Dereck Williams of Suitland, Md.; godson, Trevor Thomas, of New York; and many other relatives and friends.