About Sonny

James L. "Sonny" Buchanan was born in Bethesda, Maryland and grew up in Gaithersburg, graduating from Gaithersburg High School in 1981. He was the youngest of the three children and always went by the nickname, “Sonny".

While earning a bachelor's degree in Business Law at the University of Maryland, Sonny had a landscaping business to help earn his way through college. His business grew, and he continued it after college. He designed and built beautiful pathways, patios, retaining walls, and lily ponds. Sonny loved sports, was an avid reader, amateur poet, and a great listener. He was a son, brother, uncle, good friend, and a fine man

Sonny Buchanan was a member of the Board of Directors of Crime Solvers of Montgomery County, Maryland. Sonny was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Boys & Girls Clubs. For many years he gave exceptional assistance to the Rockville and Silver Spring branches of the Boys & Girls Clubs, from working hard to contribute to fundraising efforts, to buying toys for the annual holiday parties, to mowing their fields so that the children could play sports.

He mentored many children during his tenure and did projects with them to improve the community, such as planting trees and removing graffiti. Sonny believed children are our future and, if we spend time with at risk kids to show them other options, we can change the world “one child at a time”. He believed in being involved in the community and in volunteerism. Sonny was an encourager, mentor and friend. Sonny Buchanan left behind loving family and friends who will always miss him, but who are happy to celebrate his life and carry out his dreams.