Joe Harvey “Papa Joe” Stanford, 76, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Friday, August 2, 2019 at his residence.
Funeral services will be held 4 PM, Monday, August 5, 2019, at The Paulk Funeral Home Chapel in Fitzgerald, with the Rev. Christopher Alexander officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery in Fitzgerald. The family will receive friends from 2-4 Monday at the funeral home.
Mr. Stanford was born September 3, 1942, in Berrien County, Georgia to the late Chesley Reuben & Susie Ruth Luke Stanford. He worked as a supervisor at Modern Fibers for 29 years. He loved woodworking and was a member of Anderson Memorial Baptist Church.
He is survived by his children and their spouses: Donnie & REZ Ludington of Fitzgerald, Tracy Mills of Orange City, Florida, Barbara & Curly Collins of Orange City, Florida, Diane & Brian Miller of Pinellas Park, Florida, Frances Tucker Stanford of Ocilla, Susan Stanford of Fitzgerald, Michael & Penny Stanford of Fitzgerald, Travis Stanford & Nicole Drummond of Fitzgerald, Shannon Newell of Fitzgerald, Robert Lavender of Savannah, and Chris Hunter of Colorado; a daughter-in-law, Susie Stanford of Fitzgerald; grandchildren: Ralph Newell, Russell Newell, Brian Hampton, Kristen & Douglas Peterson, Bam Bam & Jean Hampton, Shane Ludington, Chris Ludington, Dawn Moore, Brittney Stanford, Amanda James, Amber Young, Barbie Veal, Slaton Cribb, Joe Stanford, III, Freida Stanford Markham, Jackie Stanford, Jodi Stanford, Aaron Grantham, Ashley Stanford, Joseph Stanford, Michael Fales, Jonathan Ludington, Billy Ray Harrell, and Diane Spires; great-grandchildren: Michelle Jackson, Seth Faircloth, Falisitie Powell, Tyler Powell, Cole Peterson, Tristen Powell, Bailey Peterson, Savannah Peterson, B.J. Peterson, Lacee Quattlebaum, Kensley Quattlebaum, J.T. Sumner, Colby Cash Sumner, Blayze Hulett, Harmonee Hulett, Ariel Moore, Braiden Hulett, Blaise Ludington, Aurora Ludington, Sonya Roberson, Bubba Roberson, Danin Cravey, Kaelyn Cravey, Paisleigh Stanford, Jace Stanford, Annaleigh Stanford, Bailey Peterson, Jay Markham, Anistyn Markham, Mikael Markham, Khelben Newell, Deanna Newell, Jeffrey Newell, Nola Newell, Junior Hampton, Dixie Hampton, and Bailey Rogers; great-great-grandchildren: Presley Chapman, Raygan Roscoe, Paige Roscoe, Graycie Davis, Reid Sullivan, Kadgyn Moore, and Brylee Moore; a brother, Roy Stanford of Fitzgerald; and three sisters: Gerline Stanford of Tifton, Emma Veal of Fitzgerald, and Bea Branch of Nashville. Many nieces and nephews also survive. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Barbara Elfreida Tucker Stanford; a son, Joe H. “Jody” Stanford, Jr.; two daughters: Jackie Harrell and Marie Ludington; a grandson-in-law, Michael Moore; a great-grandchild, Sierra Roberson; brothers: Jimmy Stanford, Junior Stanford, Garfield Stanford, Troy Stanford, and an infant brother, Jay Henry Stanford; a sister, Edith Alexander; and a beloved nephew, Roger Stanford.