Founder of Buford’s Brownies in Columbus dies. Memorial service is scheduled

E. Buford King III, founder of Buford’s Brownies in Columbus, has died, according to his obituary on the Striffler-Hamby Mortuary website. He was 76.

The cause of his death wasn’t available before publication, but his obituary says he died peacefully at home Sunday.

King founded Buford’s Brownies in the late 1990s, following in the footsteps of his grandfather, E. Buford King, who founded Kings Grocery Company.

Buford’s Brownies closed in 2014, but his brownies continued to be sold at Rosehill Seafood, which his son Buford King owns.

A sampling of comments on Facebook from folks reacting to the news of King’s death shows the positive impact he made in the Chattahoochee Valley:

• “Best Brownies ever,” wrote Pat Waldrop.
• “We used to go there all the time,” wrote David Ables.
• “Such a sweet man,” wrote Debby Jacobs Kemp.

King’s memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on April 15 at St. Paul Church in Columbus. Instead of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Historic Columbus Foundation (P.O. Box 5312, Columbus, GA 31906), St. Paul Church (2101 Wildwood Avenue, Columbus, GA 31906), or a charity of your choice, according to the obituary.

This story was originally published April 14, 2026 at 3:15 PM.