James Conley "Buddy" Caines, age 76, of Tabor City, NC, passed away on January 18, 2026, at McLeod Seacoast Hospital in Little River, SC.

Buddy was a proud Vietnam veteran of the United States Navy, serving his country with honor and a quiet kind of pride that never needed bragging. He carried that same grit, loyalty, and strong sense of duty into every part of his life.

A true country man through and through, Buddy owned J.C. Caines and Sons Backhoe Service for many years. He believed in hard work, early mornings, and doing a job right the first time. Folks knew Buddy as someone you could count on-steady, honest, and never afraid of a long day's work.

Buddy loved his family something fierce, especially his nieces and nephews. He was always cutting up with them, joking, teasing and keeping everybody laughing. Family gatherings weren't the same without Uncle Buddy's playful grin and good-natured mischief.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Chadbourn Caines and Kathleen Fisher Caines; his beloved wife, Judy Coleman Caines, who passed July 8, 2023, and stepson, Matt Ward, of Wilmington, NC. Though her loss weighed heavy on his heart, the love they shared never faded.

Buddy is survived by his sisters, Nellie Ward (Homer) of Whiteville, NC, and Jane Ford (Bob) of Cerro Gordo, NC; his brother, Terry Caines (Brenda) of Whiteville, NC; special friends, Kyle and Tabatha Blackburn, of Tabor City, NC; step-son, Rev. David Ward (Jennifer); and an abundance of nieces and nephews who loved him dearly and will forever treasure the memories they shared.

Buddy will be remembered as a devoted veteran, a hardworking businessman, a loving husband, and a fun-loving uncle with a big heart and a playful spirit. His life was rooted in family, hard work, and laughter-and his memory will live on wherever stories are told and smiles are shared.

A graveside service will be held Friday, January 23, 2026 at 1:00 pm at Coleman Cemetery in Tabor City, NC, with interment to follow. (455 Roscoe Coleman Road Tabor City)