Celebrating the life of
James F. "Jim" Stafford Sr.
December 17, 1922 - August 17, 2012
James F. Jim Stafford Sr. passed away on Friday, August 17, 2012 at the ripe old age of 89 at his residence. Jim was the third son of Nicholas T. and Katherine Stafford. He attended Marist School for boys, and graduated from Benedictine Military School in the class of 1942. He was a lifelong catholic and a communicant of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church. He entered the US Army in January of 1943, and was discharged in 1946 after serving in the South Pacific in World War II. Jim retired in February 1989 from ILA Clerks Local 1475 after 27 years of service. During his tenure he served as president, vice president, business agent as well as dispatcher. He was an honorary member of the Hibernian Society, honorary member and Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus 5588, past president of the Irish Heritage Society, and a member of American Legion Post 184.Jim was a lifelong member of the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee and it was his great honor to serve as the 1991 Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick's Day Parade. His father, Nicholas T. Stafford, served as Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1962.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Kathleen M. Stafford, on June 3, 2001 and his two brothers, John J. Stafford and Nicholas T. Stafford Jr.
He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Everyone that knew Jim knew he spent a lot of time with his grandchildren as well as his great grandchildren. At any activity you could be sure to see Papa watching with pride along with a big smile on his face.
He is survived by a daughter, Kaye S. Culler Melvin of Durham, NC a son, James F. Stafford Jr. Alicia of Brunswick, GA; and a daughter, Amelia S. Sanderlin Tommy of Wilmington Island, GA; seven grandchildren, Kristen C. Barnhill Todd of Durham, NC; Jennifer C. Moore Hunter of Raleigh, NC; Shannon, Katie, and James F. Stafford III of St. Simons, GA; Kurt J. Lewis Shaune, and Sterling Lewis both of Wilmington Island, GA. His pride and joy are his thirteen great-grandchildren, Colleen, Kandace, Nicholas, Parker, Cade, Matthew, Kyle, Logan, September, Katheryn, Konner, Zachery, and Kate.
Visitation: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Sunday, August 19, 2012 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with a Christian Wake Service at 5:00 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial: 2:00 p.m., Monday, August 20, 2012 at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Father Patrick O'Brien Celebrant.
Pallbearers: Dennis Chandler, Roland Mahoney, Luigi Trapani, Joseph Counihan, Charles Ray Jr. and Mike Beytagh.
Honorary Pallbearers: George Doerner, Arthur Rourke, and all past Grand Marshall's of the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Hibernian Society and BC Class of 1942.
Burial: Catholic Cemetery.
Remembrances: In lieu of flowers, it was Mr. Stafford's request that remembrances be made to Benedictine Military School, 6502 Seawright Dr., Savannah, GA 31406, St. Vincent's Academy, 207 E. Liberty St., Savannah, GA 31401 or Hospice Savannah, Inc., P.O. Box 13190, Savannah, GA 31416.
Please sign our online guestbook at www.foxandweeks.com
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Islands Chapel
Dear Dear Family! Papa was our savior many times and an angel for our son, Jason Thames. Jason and Sterling gave Papa lots of gray hair over the years as well as much laughter. You have a wonderful family, and we know Papa will be watching all of us from heaven. Love, Denise and Bill Geoghagan
- Denise Geoghagan, Savannah, GA
Stafford family, sorry for your loss.
- Bob White, Greensboro, GA
Your dad was one of a kind,will be missed by all, you are all in out thoughts and prayers Love Jewell,Linda, and Debbie
- Debbie & family, savannah, GA
Amy and Family you are in my Thoughts and Prayers during this time. I will always remember his words of wisdom and his stories of his and my Father's childhood.
- Jimmy Brady, Greensboro, NC
Amy & Family, I was sad to learn of your Dad's passing. I have many memories of working together with him and your Mom -- and some of those memories date back to elementary school days! God bless you all. I will keep you in my prayers.
- Debbie Lightfoot, Savannah, GA
Dear Amy and Family Very sad to hear of your Dad's passing! Every time I saw you he was always at your side! You were a great daughter and I know he loved your boys !! My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
- Colleen Henry, Savannah, GA
I am truly sorry to hear of Mr. Stafford's passing.My dad always spoke highly of him, and that was passed on to me.My favorite memory of any St.Patrick's Day parade,was to go out and shake 'Mr.Jimmy's' hand.His seniority status has changed,he is now an 'A-card'.God Bless his family and all the people he touched.
- Perry Zittrauer, , GA
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY. JIM WAS A GREAT FRIEND, HE'LL BE MISSED DEARLY.
- BARBARA & WES LAYMAN, SAVANNAH, GA
Dear Amy and Family, My deepest sympathies to you and your family.In these sad times, just remember,he couldn't have asked for a more devoted and caring daughter, and he is with his beloved Kathleen.
- Janet & Walt Kearney, savannah, GA
How I will miss my friend Jim Stafford. His valuable company was always a reminder of how fortunate I was to know so many men and women of the greatest generation. Our hearts are heavy, but I am sure that he and Kathleen are having a long awaited reunion in heaven. My love and prayers are with his many family members and friends.
- Katie Bradley, Savannah, GA
A fine man of true honor that will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him. Respectfully, John Mulligan
- John Mulligan, Savannah, GA
We were so sorry to hear about Mr. Stafford's passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kaye and the entire Stafford family.
- Mr. and Mrs. John T. Matthews, Jr., Durham, NC
Dear Family Members, We were very sorry to hear about Jimmy's passing.We had been getting regular reports and knew he was really having a difficult time.He will now be reunited with his beloved Kathleen.Remember all the happy times.You will all be in our prayers.
- Tom and Judy Mahoney, Savannah, GA
Dear Cousins; We were so saddened this morning, when we heard of Jimmy's Passing. Bless his heart, He sure did put up a very courageous fight. Amy, you sure did your very best to see that he was happy and took him everywhere that he wanted to be. Curt and Sterling, You were wonderful grandsons, and he was very proud of y'all and your families. We will really miss him at the Irish functions, and the ILA functions. I know he was more than ready to be back with his beloved Kathleen. Debbie was there to greet him,also. She loved all of you. Please stay in touch with us, and know that we love you all. Sandra and Roland
- Roland and Sandra Mahoney, Savannah, GA
Rest in Peace dear friend, God bless your family and thank you for your words of wisdom and the last time I saw Jimmy I said 'I said you gona out live us all aren't you' and he said, 'I am gona Damn sure try'
- Ron & Joanne Webber, Savannah, GA
To the Stafford Family, I know how much you will miss him, but remember he has reached his heavenly home to be greated by Kathleen and so many loving family member and friends. I know there are toddie being shared!! Remember hs is being held in the Palm of His Hand with great peace and pride. Keeping all of you in our thoughts and prayers. The Foran and Stuckey Families
- Angie Foran, Savannah, GA
Dear Dear Family! Papa was our savior many times and an angel for our son, Jason Thames. Jason and Sterling gave Papa lots of gray hair over the years as well as much laughter. You have a wonderful family, and we know Papa will be watching all of us from heaven. Love, Denise and Bill Geoghagan
- Denise Geoghagan, Savannah, GA
Stafford family, sorry for your loss.
- Bob White, Greensboro, GA
Your dad was one of a kind,will be missed by all, you are all in out thoughts and prayers Love Jewell,Linda, and Debbie
- Debbie & family, savannah, GA
Amy and Family you are in my Thoughts and Prayers during this time. I will always remember his words of wisdom and his stories of his and my Father's childhood.
- Jimmy Brady, Greensboro, NC
Amy & Family, I was sad to learn of your Dad's passing. I have many memories of working together with him and your Mom -- and some of those memories date back to elementary school days! God bless you all. I will keep you in my prayers.
- Debbie Lightfoot, Savannah, GA
Dear Amy and Family Very sad to hear of your Dad's passing! Every time I saw you he was always at your side! You were a great daughter and I know he loved your boys !! My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
- Colleen Henry, Savannah, GA
I am truly sorry to hear of Mr. Stafford's passing.My dad always spoke highly of him, and that was passed on to me.My favorite memory of any St.Patrick's Day parade,was to go out and shake 'Mr.Jimmy's' hand.His seniority status has changed,he is now an 'A-card'.God Bless his family and all the people he touched.
- Perry Zittrauer, , GA
OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH THE FAMILY. JIM WAS A GREAT FRIEND, HE'LL BE MISSED DEARLY.
- BARBARA & WES LAYMAN, SAVANNAH, GA
Dear Amy and Family, My deepest sympathies to you and your family.In these sad times, just remember,he couldn't have asked for a more devoted and caring daughter, and he is with his beloved Kathleen.
- Janet & Walt Kearney, savannah, GA
How I will miss my friend Jim Stafford. His valuable company was always a reminder of how fortunate I was to know so many men and women of the greatest generation. Our hearts are heavy, but I am sure that he and Kathleen are having a long awaited reunion in heaven. My love and prayers are with his many family members and friends.
- Katie Bradley, Savannah, GA
A fine man of true honor that will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him. Respectfully, John Mulligan
- John Mulligan, Savannah, GA
We were so sorry to hear about Mr. Stafford's passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Kaye and the entire Stafford family.
- Mr. and Mrs. John T. Matthews, Jr., Durham, NC
Dear Family Members, We were very sorry to hear about Jimmy's passing.We had been getting regular reports and knew he was really having a difficult time.He will now be reunited with his beloved Kathleen.Remember all the happy times.You will all be in our prayers.
- Tom and Judy Mahoney, Savannah, GA
Dear Cousins; We were so saddened this morning, when we heard of Jimmy's Passing. Bless his heart, He sure did put up a very courageous fight. Amy, you sure did your very best to see that he was happy and took him everywhere that he wanted to be. Curt and Sterling, You were wonderful grandsons, and he was very proud of y'all and your families. We will really miss him at the Irish functions, and the ILA functions. I know he was more than ready to be back with his beloved Kathleen. Debbie was there to greet him,also. She loved all of you. Please stay in touch with us, and know that we love you all. Sandra and Roland
- Roland and Sandra Mahoney, Savannah, GA
Rest in Peace dear friend, God bless your family and thank you for your words of wisdom and the last time I saw Jimmy I said 'I said you gona out live us all aren't you' and he said, 'I am gona Damn sure try'
- Ron & Joanne Webber, Savannah, GA
To the Stafford Family, I know how much you will miss him, but remember he has reached his heavenly home to be greated by Kathleen and so many loving family member and friends. I know there are toddie being shared!! Remember hs is being held in the Palm of His Hand with great peace and pride. Keeping all of you in our thoughts and prayers. The Foran and Stuckey Families
- Angie Foran, Savannah, GA
Services under the direction of:
Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel
912-352-7200
