Ray Stafford

Winston-Salem- Mr. Ray Lemar Stafford, 84, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 22, 2018 at his residence. He was born on October 5, 1933 in Forsyth County to Charles Allen and Odessa Lemar Stafford. Growing up, he lived in the Children’s Home in Winston-Salem. Ray served for 19 years in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and two tours in Vietnam. After the Navy, Ray was an Automation Specialist for the US Postal Service. He loved to watch sports, specifically the Carolina Tarheels, loved listening to Big Band music, and enjoyed gardening. Ray was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, Ray was preceded in death by three grandchildren. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Mary Nell Long Stafford; daughter, Rosemary Jacobson (husband, Joseph); three sons, Dennis Stafford (wife, Wanda), Douglas Stafford (wife, Barbara), and David Stafford (wife, Melody); six grandchildren, Lauren, Jonathan, Kaitlin, Hannah, Rusty, and Jacob; three great grandchildren, Nora, Ambrose, and Hudson; one brother, Richard Stafford (wife, Betty); and two sisters, Betsy Burch and Shirley Harpe. A funeral service for Ray will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, September 26, 2018 at Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel with Rev. Jonathan Stafford and Pastor Kenneth Sanders officiating. Burial will follow the service at Mt. Gur cemetery in Kernersville. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trellis Supportive Care at 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.