Flora Christian Stafford, 96, affectionately known as “Boo”, died peacefully at home on December 12, 2014. Her funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2014, at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church with Rev. Jay Roberson and Rev. Benjy Varnell officiating. Mrs. Stafford will be entombed at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 16, 2014, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals. Mrs. Stafford will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service.
She was born in Americus on April 18, 1918 to Hazel Tower Christian and Robert Gibson Christian. She had many fond memories of growing up in Americus and of later living in Rutledge, where her family moved during the Depression. During World War II, she moved to Atlanta to work for the Milk Control Board at the State Capitol. It was there that her boss introduced her to his good friend and the future love of her life, DeNean Stafford, Jr. They married in 1947 and a few years later moved to Tifton, where Mr. Stafford opened Case Tractor and Studebaker Automobile dealership.
In 1964, the Staffords opened the Holiday Inn of Tifton, one of the very first Interstate motels. She became its unequivocal “Chief Hospitality Officer” and warmly welcomed guests from all over the world to the motel and restaurant for almost thirty years.
A vivacious personality and wonderful sense of humor made her a natural for the hospitality business. An admiring guest and his wife once wrote a letter to the management of the hotel saying that “Mrs. Stafford is a local and state treasure. This lady of some 85 years - erect in stature, gracious on meeting, sharp and entertaining in conversation, beautiful to the eye, a model in wearing apparel and co-owner for 39 years - will put a smile on your face and etch a memory in your mind”.
She had a deep affection for her Holiday Inn family and for all of the employees at Stafford Development Company and Reliable Tractor. She will also be remembered for her amazing natural musical ability. She could whistle like a songbird and, as a young girl, discovered that she could play the piano beautifully without reading a note. This gift brought immense pleasure to her and to many others who enjoyed singing along with her lighthearted renditions of standards and hymns. She was an avid bridge player who greatly enjoyed the camaraderie of her “card” buddies throughout the years. Boo and DeNean traveled extensively and made many friends along the way.
She was a wonderful mother and showed each of her three children unconditional love. She adored her granddaughters. Surviving family members are Mary Jane Theden and daughters Flora and Sarah, Sally Stafford Perez (Anthony) and daughter Elizabeth, and DeNean Stafford (Patti) and daughters Laura and Anne Benton (Thomas). Boo was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, DeNean Stafford, Jr., sister, Lamartine Christian Mitchell and brother, Robert Gibson Christian, Jr.
The Staffords established a foundation in 1996 to support Abraham Baldwin College and many other community organizations. They were honored in 2012 when ABAC named its new four year business degree program the Stafford School of Business. Mrs. Stafford received the George A. Wright Award in 2001 for her contributions to civic organizations and community service work. She was a lifelong Methodist and an active member of The First United Methodist Church in Tifton for many years.
The family is profoundly grateful for the years of devoted, loving care provided by Myrtice Thomas and her other caregivers.(Louise Henley, Dolores Rumsford, Malissa Burks, Linda Neloms and Christian Henley) We have lost the comfort of her presence, but she will always be the heart of our family.
Memorial donations can be made to Hospice of Tiftarea, P. O. Box 747, Tifton, GA 31793, The Patticake House, P. O. Box 2727, Tifton, GA 31793, or First United Methodist Church of Tifton Memorial Fund, 107 West 12th Street, Tifton, GA 31794.