Gertrude Stafford

STAFFORD, Mrs. Gertrude- Age 74 passed away Tuesday July 13, 2010 at St. Joesph Mercy Hospital Ann Arbor, MI. Family hour 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 19, 2010 at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church, 2120 N. Saginaw St., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m., Min. Rod LeGardye officiating, Pastor Curtis Baker presiding. Interment Lovedale Memorial Cemetery, G-5175 E. Bristol Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10:30 a.m. Monday. Mrs. Stafford will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 3-6 p.m. Sunday. Mrs. Gertrude “Trudy” (Mosley) Stafford was born December 15, 1935 in Edwards, Mississippi, the daughter of the late Jesse Mosley and Mary Ella Johnson. She accepted Christ at a very early age, as a member of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Edwards, Mississippi. “Trudy” attended Campbell Community College in Jackson, MS, before coming to Flint, Michigan in 1959, where she met and was joined in Holy Matrimony to her late husband Virgil Lee Stafford on March 23 1963. To this union two sons were born, Virgil Jr. and Ellis. Mrs. Stafford was a devout Christian. Upon arriving to Flint, she became a member of Morning Star Baptist Church. “She loved Morning Star Baptist Church”. As one of the most active members, she acted as the Church Clerk, served on the Trustee and Mother Boards, sang in the choir and regularly attended Sunday school and Bibly Study. Mrs. Stafford was also a member of the Goodtimers Social Club, where she enjoyed many years with some of her closet friends. Understand she loved her family. She leaves to cherish her passing: two daughters, Faye (Sam) Wells of Flint and Carla Shelton of Indianapolis, IN; two sons, Virgil Stafford, Jr. of Beverly Hills, MI and Ellis (Darlyn) Stafford of Ypsilanti, MI; very special nephew, whom she took as a son, Jesse Mosley of Doraville, GA; eight grandchildren, William Key Jr., and Terrence Key, both of Memphis, TN, Samuel Wells II of St. Petersburg, FL, Tiffany Wells of Dallas, TX, Tyler Fields of Katy, TX, Virgil Stafford III of Flint, Maricia and Marisa Stafford of Ypsilanti, MI; stepmother, Barbara (William) Key of Memphis, TN; sister, Ella Mae Scott of Cleveland, OH; two sisters-in-law, Freddie Mae Alexander of Memphis, TN and Savannah Stafford of Flint; godchildren, Alexandria “Tornea” Peden and Taqulia Williams, both of Flint; two nieces, Denise Bradford and Laverne (William) Moore of Cleveland, OH; four nephews, Jesse; Rutherford Dawson, Los Angeles, CA, Zadger Dawson of Cleveland, OH and Elma McDaniel of Knoxville, TN; a host of great-nieces, cousin, including special cousin, Nannie Mae Horton of Flint; and friends including special friends, Ann (Joe) Jordan, Sister Betty Smith, Sister Bertha Hamlett, Bro. J.D. (Edna) Chapman, all of Flint, Shirley Hawthorne of Dallas, TX and “her” Pastor Ernest (Anita) Girley of Flint. Mrs. Stafford was preceded in passing by her husband; parents; and brother-in-law, Odell Stafford. The family would like to thank Dr. Inderitt Bhatti, the staff of Hurley Medical Center, Heartland Home Care (Ann Arbor), St. Joseph Mercy Medical Center, Davita Dialysis, Universal Ambulance and all others who made shrimp and cheeseburger runs. We love you.

Gertrude Stafford

December 15, 1935 - July 13, 2010