Virginia Mae Stanford Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

VIRGINIA MAE STANFORD was born in Manning, South Carolina on May 22, 1938 to the late Robin and Martha Brunson. She was called home to eternal rest on Saturday, March 13, 2021 after a brief illness.Virginia had two siblings, Ann Stephens and Preston Brunson, who preceded her in death. Virginia accepted salvation at age 19 being baptized in Jesus’ name and filled with the Holy Ghost under the leadership of Bishop Ruth Allen of Zion Apostolic Faith Church in Baltimore, Maryland. In June 1996, she joined Bishop Chappel Peterson and the Love of God Church currently led by Pastor Ruby Ferguson. While she was very young her father, in search of better employment opportunities, moved his family to Baltimore, Maryland. Virginia was educated in the Baltimore City Public Schools and graduated in 1955 from Carver Vocational-Technical High School. In 1957, Virginia met the late John Edward Stanford and they married in 1958. From this union four daughters were born, Debra, Denise, Daine, and Anita. Virginia worked as a seamstress at Clemco Products where she was a machine operator. She was a stellar worker and would often receive cash awards for no absences and no lateness. To broaden her skills and knowledge she left Clemco for Polk Audio to work at making speakers. While there she was frequently acknowledged for her outstanding job performance. Clemco Products, however, wooed Virginia back to their company. She was such a valued associate that when the plant moved from Baltimore to Westminster, Maryland, the owner provided daily transportation for her to get to and from work. She let them know she was not driving that far! When she turned 62 years old, she no longer wanted to travel so far to work and called it quits. When she was just 35 years old, Virginia became a widow and never remarried. With determination, she raised her four daughters as a single parent. Her girls had everything they needed and never wanted for anything. It was tough raising girls in the 60’s, but Virginia kept the lights on, the home cozy , the refrigerator and freezer full, and provided home cooked meals every day. Sundays were special; she got up early to bake a cake and threatened you if you walked on the floor too hard while her cake was baking, thinking it wouldn’t rise. A big Sunday meal was very important to her. Virginia loved to cook, and was a great cook and baker. Every year her family gathered and enjoyed her special Easter Sunday dinner. There would be so much food, and the chicken was fried to perfection. Even when she was in the hospital she said, “This food is nasty, if I could just get down to the kitchen, this is not food, I eat good food.” Virginia was adamant that her girls received an education. Her motto was, “once you get an education, no one can take it away from you.” Thus, all her daughters graduated from college earning bachelor’s degrees and two earned master’s degrees. Virginia was a true giver, no one could visit her home and leave empty-handed. You were going to take food, medicine, or goodies or a treat or something….it was going to be something. She had a smile that lit up a room and her laugh came from her soul and very heartwarming. Anything you had a problem with, Virginia had a solution, it just came naturally. To know her was to love her. Virginia believed in God’s power of healing. During her brief hospital stay, due to Covid-19 she could only be visited by her family, but you could hear her praying as she lay ill, “Father, heal my body”. Anything you asked of her she would do and would reply, “In the name of Jesus”. We are all deeply saddened by the sudden loss, but we thank God for the values she has instilled in us. Primarily that we should believe in and serve God. Through her example we learned the value of hard work and dedication to these principles. She taught her girls and her grandchildren what it meant to be family and what true love felt like; love your sisters, love your family, and stick together. She leaves to cherish her memory: four daughters, Debra Williams (Thomas), Denise Gholson (Rufus), Daine Boyd (Morris) and Anita Curry (Malcolm); grandchildren, Thomas Williams, Jr., Omar Williams, Sean-Theius Jones, Demetrius Jones, Kyra Jones, Lynnae Wilson, Zavan Boyd, and Kezia Boyd; sixteen great-grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews; and sister-in-law, Annie Brunson of Columbus, Georgia. Virginia will be sorely missed by her girls who still love, respect and affectionately called her “Mommy”.

Tributes

Virginia Mae Stanford

May 22, 1938 - March 13, 2021