Nash Lee “Buddy” Musselwhite, 84, of Lumberton, North Carolina, passed away at his home on Friday, October 16, 2026.

They say everyone writes their own story, and Buddy Musselwhite certainly wrote his own, his way. It is a challenge to capture such a larger-than-life man in just a few words.

Buddy is survived by his wife, Lila Musselwhite, of the home; his children, Lee Ann Musselwhite of Oak Island, North Carolina, and Michael Musselwhite (Sherry) of Lumberton, North Carolina; four grandchildren Kris Warwick, Michael (Mikey) Musselwhite, Ryan Musselwhite and Tyler Musselwhite; two great-grandchildren Mila Musselwhite and Ava Musselwhite; and two sisters, Betty Georges and Diane Bridgeman; several special dear friends and his dog, Little Bit.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Leila Hendren Musselwhite; his father, Nash Zack Musselwhite; and his brother, James Howard Musselwhite.

As the founder of BMCO Construction, Inc., of Lumberton, North Carolina, Buddy built more than a successful business. He built a legacy in the heavy highway construction industry, and his family remains proud of both the life he built and his contributions to the community he served.

Known to his peers in the industry as the “Mouth of the South,” Buddy was a man who left little doubt about where you stood with him. Some would call him hard. Others would call him real. What no one would ever call him was lazy.

Buddy wore a watch and could readily recite the number of seconds in a day. He routinely broke financial obligations down in his head by that very number. To Buddy, time was never an abstract concept. It was something to be measured, accounted for, and put to good use.

He demanded excellence of himself and expected it of others. To be clear, he was intolerant of anything less. His relentless push to do better, to be better, left those around him simultaneously exhausted from the effort of trying to keep up and better for having made the effort.

A salesman once made the unfortunate mistake of referring to some random thing Buddy had done as “average.” That did not go well. After Buddy delivered a not-so-polite lecture on precisely what it meant to be average, he walked away and found another supplier. Buddy had little patience for mediocrity.

Buddy did things his way, rarely willing to compromise on even the smallest detail. That said, his way worked.

His way meant that you simply did not stop until the work was done. His way meant anticipating a problem and having a solution long before the problem ever presented itself. He was easily triggered when a problem popped up that had not been anticipated.

His unrelenting pursuit of excellence could be exhausting for those who worked alongside him and those who loved him, even in his later years. But it also cannot be denied that the people around him rose to meet his standards. In doing so, he made us all better.

Buddy lived life on his own terms, with an unwavering belief in hard work, preparation, determination, and doing things right. He was not a man who sought approval, nor was he one who readily accepted compromise. He knew what he expected of himself and of others, and he never saw much reason to lower the bar.

What might surprise some was Buddy's tender side. Beneath that demanding exterior was a man whose drive was rooted in a deep love for his family. More than anything, he wanted to take care of us, to teach us to be self-reliant, and to instill in us the determination to never give up. Quitting was simply never an option. In Buddy's world, “no” was merely the starting point for negotiating his desired outcome.

Creativity was the one thing about Buddy that exceeded his unending capacity to work. This unstoppable combination was the back bone to his success with BMCO Construction, and the special places he created in between the years.

For those that were lucky enough to visit his farm, when going through the gates, it was like coming face to face with paradise in the most unexpected of places. Here he was able to surround himself with the nature he loved so dearly. Here he watched the sun both rise and set while he marveled at the pictures painted in the sky each day. He enjoyed watching the eagles build their next, the gaggle of ducks fly over the water, and the turtles sun on a fallen tree.

We will remain eternally proud of the man he was, the life he built, and the legacy he leaves behind.

And in the end, perhaps no words could describe "Buddy" better than those made famous by Frank Sinatra and written by Paul Anka

And now the end is near

So I face the final curtain

My friend, I'll say it clear

I'll state my case of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full

I've traveled each and every highway

And more, much more than thisI did it my way

Regrets, I've had a few

But then again, too few to mention

I did what I had to do

And saw it through without exception

I planned each charted course

Each careful step along the byway

And more, much more than this

I did it my way

Yes, there were times, I'm sure you know

That I bit off more than I could chew

But through it all when there was doubt

I ate it up and spit it out

I faced it all and I stood tall

And did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and criedI

I've had my fill, my share of losing

And now as tears subside

I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that

And may I say, not in a shy way

Oh, no, no not me

I did it my way

For what is a man, what has he got

If not himself, then he has not

To say the words he truly feels

And not the words of one who kneels

The record shows I took the blows

And did it my way

The family will have a private memorial service at a later date.