Willie Lee Buffington was born in 1908 to parents Mose and Lizzie Buffington. He came from a poor family, but was still able to complete the local school near his home at the age of 16. Willie was then sent to Martha Berry Schools in Rome, Georgia. He would spend the next two years there. While at Berry, Willie’s father had a crop failure that forced both Willie and his father into the cotton mills. Soon after the first Faith Cabin Library was established, Buffington decided to continue with his education by completing his high school degree. It took him two years to complete this degree as he worked during the day and took classes at night. After high school, he was admitted to Furman University and would then go on to graduate from Crozer Theological Seminary. Mr. Buffington would open over 100 Faith Cabin Libraries throughout his life. He died in 1988.