Clair “Teeny” Jean Sullivan Stratford – Obituary

Clair “Teeny” Jean Sullivan Stratford, of Muscle Shoals, died Feb. 2, 2014. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Roland Stratford, and her parents, Eugene Sullivan and Irene Tardy Sullivan, of Helena, Ark. She is survived by her three children, Mary Ann Stratford Stegall (Robert P. Stegall), of Muscle Shoals, Charles (Chuck) Roland Stratford Jr. (Daphne Dean Stratford), of Madison, Sharon (Sherry) and Kay Stratford Martin (Greg Martin), of New Hope; grandchildren, Scarlet Ann Martin Deahl (Eric Deahl), of Atlanta, Ga., Ashley Nicole Martin, Stephanie Renee Stratford, and Charles (Chase) Roland Stratford III; great- grandchildren, Jackson Thomas Deahl and Adalyn Kay Deahl, of Atlanta; sister, Anne Ellen Sullivan Vaughn (Dallas Vaughn), of Findlay, Ohio; brother, Samuel Tardy Sullivan (Shelley Sullivan), of Texas; sister-in-law, Anne Dunn, of Monroe, La.; and nieces and nephews, Cynthia Smith, Kelley Farrah, Todd Dunn, and Beau Browder.

Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at Woodward Avenue Baptist Church in Muscle Shoals followed by the funeral service at 3 p.m. Colbert Memorial Chapel will be handling the arrangements with Dr. Tom Whatley and Ricky Williams officiating. Pallbearers will be Greg Bowling, John Conn, Rodney Howard, Chuck Lawler, Dean Lesley, and William Moore. Burial will be in Colbert Memorial Gardens.

Teeny was born Dec. 5, 1936, in Helena, Ark. and attended Central High School in Helena. She met her husband, Charles Stratford, in Helena, where they married and started their family. After living in Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee, they settled in Muscle Shoals in 1965.

Teeny worked as a bank teller for local banks while Mr. Stratford started the band program for Muscle Shoals City schools. In 1976, she worked for the City of Muscle Shoals as the assistant city clerk. In 1987, she was hired as city clerk, and she retired in 1998. She worked for many great mayors and city councilmen. She loved Muscle Shoals and was very proud of the contributions she made to help better the city.

Teeny had a larger than life personality and was known for her style and grace. She loved her family, her friends, and with her infectious laugh, she was the life of the party. She enjoyed playing bridge, spending time with her Lunch Bunch friends, hosting Alabama game day with special friends, and traveling with the First Friends group at First Metro Bank.

Teeny loved her family, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Broadway plays, traveling abroad, Muscle Shoals City, the Muscle Shoals City Schools Band program, football, and gospel music. She attended Woodward Avenue Baptist Church and served as the Sunday School treasurer for seven years. She will be missed by all who knew her.