Edna Mae Stafford, 81 of Arab passed away Friday afternoon at her home. Mom was born in Marshall County on May 10th, 1943 to Vollie Mae Light and William Edward Ferguson, Jr. She married our Dad, David L. Stafford on February 22, 1962. They lived in Denver Colorado for two years while Dad was in the Army, then moved to Birmingham Alabama, then to Huntsville, while they built their home here outside of Arab where they have lived for the past 52 years. Mom and Dad attended the First United Methodist Church in Arab for most of that time.
They have two sons, David Philip Stafford & Jennifer, and Charles Duane Stafford. Their grand children are Meghan Holmes & Chien, Jackson Holmes & Lauren, Camille Walters & Chet Nellett, Kelsey Rush & Ryne and Taylor Stafford & Haley Benefield. Mom and Dad have two great grandchildren Mayla and Marlow Rush.
Mom was preceded in passing by two of her brothers, Charles Ferguson, and John Edward Ferguson. She is survived by her sisters, Nelda Reed, Mary Ruth Hyatt, Dorothy Singleton, Cathie Scott and her brothers Donnie Marion, Michael Marion and J.T. Marion. All of Mom’s nieces and nephews called her Aunt Mae. They are too numerous to mention here, but know she loved you all.
Mom graduated with a Bachelor of Science, Cum Laude, from Athens State in 1984. She worked at the Bank of Arab and at Doctor Hargraves’ office until she retired. Mom was an avid baker and made and decorated hundreds of wedding cakes through the years. Mom’s favorite hobby was painting. She loved going to her art classes and would then come home and apply her new skills to the canvas. Mom also loved photography and had dad build her a dark room so that she could develop her own film. She really enjoyed keeping up with her Arab Class of 1961 classmates as well.
Mom loved traveling with Dad and would accompany him on numerous trips for work and vacation, and for over twenty years Mom and Dad took a trip every year to the Ladies National Tournament with her Ladies Bowling team. Mom also collected owl figurines. Mom has had people bringing her owl figurines for 40 years from all over the globe.
Mom has been battling colon and lymphatic cancer for the past few months, with it finally taking its toll on Friday December 21st with Dad, Duane, J.T. Mike, Dot, Cathie and me by her bedside.
Services for Mom will be at Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel on Monday December 23rd, 2024. Visitation will be from noon until 2 p.m. With the Service at 2 p.m. with Mike Shirley officiating. Graveside service will be at Arab Memorial Cemetery. Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel, directing.
