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Mr. Thomas Avery Stafford, Sr., went to be with the Lord on Monday, February 15, 1999.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 17, 1999 at Hickory Grove Baptist Church with Reverend Doctor Joe Brown and the Reverend John Harrell officiating. Interment will follow at Independence Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at the Church.
Mr. Stafford was born on December 11, 1919 in Gaston County, NC. He was a forty three year member and leader at Hickory Grove Baptist Church. He served as a Sunday School Teacher, a long-time Deacon, Church Treasurer and Choir member. Mr. Stafford also served as Music Director at Grace Baptist and Wilson Grove Baptist Church. Mr. Stafford served valiantly in the U.S. Air Force, Pacific Theater, during World War II and on active duty in the Air National Guard during the Korean Conflict at Ft. Knox, Ky. He retired from the City of Charlotte, Traffic Engineering Department in 1981 with 32 years of service. Mr. Stafford was extremely active in his professional organization, The International Municipal Signal Association. For eighteen years he was Secretary-Treasurer of The Southeastern Section, International Vice Chairman for one year and Chairman of the Board for two years. He brought a christian influence to the organization.
He was a loving husband for 56 years to his wife, Martha McGraw Stafford, a caring father to his children; daughter, Rita Kaye Stafford of Charlotte, NC and son, Mayor Tom Stafford, Jr. and his wife, Wanda of Jefferson, SC; Mr. Stafford loved his grandchildren very much: Amy and Doug Heafner, Bo Stafford, Melissa Stafford, Crystal Ponds and Preston McManus; his great grandchildren brought him many smiles and much joy, Jonah and Isaac Heafner, Timmy McManus and C.W. Dylkan and Zachary Pond; he is also survived by sisters, Mrs. Ruth McAlister of Lowell, NC and Mrs. Nell Turner of Gastonia, NC and brother, Rev. Charles Stafford of Concord, NC. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Maude, Martha and Jud.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hickory Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, 6050 Hickory Grove Rd., Charlotte, NC 28215 or Independence Hill Baptist Church, 10220 Eastfield Rd., Huntersville, NC 28078.
McEwen Funeral Service, Mint Hill Chapel is serving the Stafford family.
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1919 - 1999 (79 years)
