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Vivienne Poteat Stafford, 79, of 1150 11th Street Circle NW, Hickory, N.C., died on December 21, 2006 after a period of declining health due to Parkinson's disease. Mrs. Stafford was a retired teacher from Hickory High School, Maiden High School, and Lenoir-Rhyne College. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Don L. Stafford. Born on November 27, 1927, in Spencer, North Carolina,
Vivienne was one of six children of Ed and Ruth Fitzgerald Poteat. She graduated from Spencer High in 1945 where she was President of the student body and winner of the North Carolina American Legion Oratorical Contest. Vivienne graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1949 where she was named Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. In 1950, she earned her Master's Degree from Duke University. She married Don Stafford on June 16, 1949. Mrs. Stafford taught English and French at Maiden High School from 1951 to 1955. She taught English, French, History, and Humanities at Hickory High School from 1956 to 1961 and then from 1969 to 1989. She was selected as the Terry Sanford Teacher of the Year for Hickory City Schools in 1974, and she finished as one of the top five finalists in the state. After she retired from teaching in the public school system, Mrs. Stafford taught History at Lenoir-Rhyne College. Mrs. Stafford was a leader in the Hickory and Catawba County communities. She was a charter member of St. Luke's United Methodist Church where she served as a Lay Leader, Administrative Board Chairman, and a Sunday school teacher. She served on the Catawba County Board of Social Services from 1993 to 1996. She was a member of the City of Hickory's Library Board and Human Relations Council. In an attempt to recognize the needy, Vivienne once wrote a column titled "The Empty Stocking Fund" in the Hickory Daily Record. She was appointed by Governor James Hunt as a Trustee to Catawba Valley Community College from 1996 to 1999. Mrs. Stafford won the Distinguished Service Award from Lenoir-Rhyne College in 1970, and later she was President of the Alumni Association in the 1990's. She was a dedicated member of the teaching sorority Delta Kappa Gamma, a member of the Board of Directors of the Hickory Community Theatre, she performed in several plays and was awarded a Kay Award for her outstanding performance. Survivors include two brothers, David Poteat and Larry Poteat; one sister, Linda Poteat Walser; sons, Gary Randolph Stafford (Frances), and Perry Edward Stafford (Nan); one daughter, Donna Stafford Willen (Dr. Steve); a stepson, Don McNeely (Linda); and grandchildren, Luke, Vivienne Elizabeth, Ellen, and Emma Stafford, Eli and Sophie Willen, Brad McNeely, and Celeste Brinkley. The funeral service will be held Tuesday, December 26, 2006, 2 p.m. at St. Luke's United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Thomas L. Gibson and the Rev. Jim Armstrong officiating. The family will receive friends at the church from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Tuesday prior to the service. The Cheerios and the Golden Bible Class will serve as honorary pallbearers. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. Memorials may be made to: Don and Vivienne Stafford Scholarship Fund, Hickory Public Schools, Attn.: Kathy Isenhour, 432 4th Ave., SW, Hickory, N.C. 28602. Bass-Smith Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the family of Vivienne Poteat Stafford.
Published in the Roanoke Times on 12/22/2006.
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1927 - 2006 (79 years)
