James A. STAFFORD

1921 - 2002  (81 years)

• Name	James A. STAFFORD
  Nickname	Jim
  Born	2 Feb 1921
  Gender	Male
  _UID	305A5877905F4B4590C258A4181713B820E6
  Died	20 Aug 2002
  Buried	Jesse Mercer Willis Cem., Willison, Levy Co., Florida
  Person ID	I120774	Branch 214 William M. Stafford b. 1889 SC
  Last Modified	31 Dec 2012

  
  

  Father	William M. STAFFORD,   b. 15 Jul 1889, Near Charleston, South Carolina ,   d. 30 Oct 1981, Williston, Levy Co., Florida  (Age 92 years)
  Mother	Gertrude WILLIS,   b. 15 Sep 1898, Florida ,   d. 4 Jun 1982, Levy Co., Florida  (Age 83 years)
  Married	1916
  Census	1930	Lake Worth, Palm Beach Co., Florida
  Notes	Census: 1930 United States Federal Census 1930 United States Federal Census Name: William Stafford - Newspaper Editor Gender: Male Birth Year: abt 1890 Birthplace: South Carolina Race: White Home in 1930: Lake Worth, Palm Beach, Florida View Map Marital Status: Married Relation to Head of House: Head Spouse's Name: Gertrude Stafford Father's Birthplace: South Carolina Mother's Birthplace: Germany Household Members: Name Age William Stafford 40 Gertrude Stafford 31 [1] Lucy Lee Stafford 11 James Stafford 9 Henery Stafford 6 Louise Stafford 4 [4 3/12] Helen Stafford 2 Elizabeth Willis 20
  Family ID	F18088	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Mary Ruth FERRELL,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Children	1. Sandra STAFFORD   2. Capt. William S. STAFFORD
  Family ID	F39046	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  Buried: James A. "Jim" Stafford, age 81, of Williston, died Tuesday, August 20, 2002, at North Florida Regional Hospital in Gainesville. Mr. Stafford was born in Williston and was the great-grandson of Jesse M. Willis, founder of the Town of Williston, Florida. He was elected Mayor of Lake Worth in 1953 and was the youngest person ever to hold that office. In 1957, he was elected to a seat on the Lake Worth City Commission and was also a candidate for the Florida State House of Representatives in 1963. Mr. Stafford's business career was in sales and public relation's work. He is a former president of the Lake Worth Board of Realtors; a past commander of American Legion Post 60 in Pahokee; a former member of the Palm Beach County Beach Acquisition Advisory Committee; a former member of the Palm Beach County Area Planning Board; and a past member of the Willis Family Cemetery Board. After graduation from Lake Worth High School in 1938, he played baseball in the Piedmont League. Mr. Stafford enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942, qualified for OCS and was separated from the Air Corps in 1946 as 1st Lt. He served overseas with the 14th (Flying Tiger) Air Force. He was also a member of the VFW, Elks, Lions and Exchange. He moved to Williston in 1982 upon retirement. Preceded in death by: his wife, Mary Ruth (Ferrell) Stafford; sister, Lucy S. Gowen; and brother, Harry A. Stafford. Survivors include: a daughter, Sandra Stafford Reckseit of Gainesville; son, Captain William S. Stafford KCTJ of Okeechobee; two sisters, Louise Keller of Williston and Helen Stafford Newkirk of Tampa; three grandchildren; and four great great-grandchildren also survive him.