Aurelia Fulton Stafford

Aurelia Fulton Stafford was born in 1930 in Walnut Cove, NC to Paul Fulton and Jewel Preston Fulton. She attended Saint Mary's School in Raleigh from 1946-50, where she was a member of numerous organizations including the basketball team, Student Government, and May Court. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1952 with a degree in Education, where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. She married Fred Foushee Stafford of Greensboro in 1952. After having lived in Greensboro, Larchmont, NY and Rutherfordton, NC, they returned to Greensboro in 1978.

A natural and dedicated leader with a strong commitment to service, education was a priority for her, especially at her beloved Saint Mary’s School in Raleigh and Canterbury School in Greensboro. She served eight years on the Saint Mary’s Board and as Board Chair, was instrumental in the decision to transition the school from junior college to a day/boarding high school. A scholarship at the school bears her name. She also served on the Board of Canterbury School, for which she was a tireless supporter and fundraiser, and where the Stafford Arts Center on campus is named in her honor. Aurelia also sat on The Tryon Palace Commission, the Historical Book Club of North Carolina Executive Board, and the North Carolina Museum of History Associates where she was Board Chair. In Greensboro, she was President of The Assembly, President of The Debutante Club of Greensboro, and member of the Wednesday Afternoon Book Club, the Wednesday Literary Club, The Junior Dogwood Book Club and Bon Appetit dinner club. A lifelong and devoted Episcopalian, she attended Holy Trinity Church.

Aurelia was an avid hiker, from the Milford Track in New Zealand to hut-to-hut hiking in the Swiss Alps to Peru’s Machu Picchu. She travelled well into her 80s, visiting many countries on nearly every continent, and had more than 40 happy summers at her home on Figure 8 Island. An accomplished bridge player, gardener, hostess and raconteur, she was smart, feisty, funny, independent, and unafraid to voice her opinion. She was always great company, ever positive even when life presented difficult challenges, and was terrifically loyal to the people and institutions she loved, most especially the UNC Tar Heels. Yet her greatest love of all was for her family and her friends.

Aurelia was predeceased by her husband Fred Foushee Stafford (1987) and is survived by her daughters Susan Stafford Kelly (Sterling), Greensboro; Janie Stafford Sellers (Dan), Charlotte; Aurelia Stafford Monk (William), Greenville; seven grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Paul Fulton, Jr., Winston-Salem.

In her later years, Aurelia always commented that she “was in a good place” at WellSpring retirement community. Her family sincerely appreciates everyone there who made her life better each day, with a special thanks to the WellSpring Home Solutions team.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 10, in Phillips Chapel at Canterbury School, 5400 Old Lake Jeanette Road, Greensboro. A reception will follow at the school.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Canterbury School, 5400 Old Lake Jeanette Road, Greensboro NC 27455; Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 607 N. Greene Street, Greensboro NC 27401; Saint Mary’s School, 900 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh NC 27603.

Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the Stafford family with arrangements. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com