When Buford Marvin Burnham was born on 24 September 1884, in Heard, Georgia, United States, his father, David Hilliard Burnham, was 25 and his mother, Brazora Rebecca Moore, was 24. He married Della May McKerley on 22 February 1910, in Cherokee, Alabama, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 3 daughters. He lived in Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States in 1935 and Election Precinct 1 Cullman, Cullman, Alabama, United States in 1940. He died on 18 May 1979, in Harris, Texas, United States, at the age of 94, and was buried in Hanceville, Cullman, Alabama, United States.