Destiny Paige Stafford

She was born Jan. 31, 2000 to Kelly Teague Stafford and the late Terry Stafford Jr.

Destiny was a member of South Gastonia Church of God, where she loved all the youth. She loved youth camp where she could be with all of her friends.

Destiny was captain of her high school cheer team as a freshman and was going to be again as a sophomore at Stuart Cramer High School. She received the Spirit Award for her cheerleading. She also competed on all-star cheer teams at Aviator in Gastonia. She loved to go to Elite Fusion and tumble in her spare time.

Her favorite pastime was going to her aunt’s house on the weekends and riding her late dad’s horse. She loved everyone and smiled all the time. If you needed her, she was there to make you smile. Her laughter was contagious. She will be missed by so many. We know that Destiny is in heaven, looking down and is overjoyed by all the people she is helping to live on through her organ donations.

Destiny is survived by her mother, Kelly Stafford, and stepfather, Chris Driggers; two brothers, J.R. and Alex Driggers, all of Cramerton; maternal grandfather, Frank Junior Morgan; maternal grandparents, Polly Leonhardt and step-grandfather, Mark Leonhardt, and Terry Stafford; paternal grandmother Brenda Stafford; aunts and uncles, Carol Driggers and David Hatch, Gwen Driggers, Jeff Teague, Mike Braswell, Shannon and Chad Bell, Kellie Stafford, Wesley Stafford and Jake Stafford and Gail Butler; cousins, MaKenzie Braswell, Joshua Bell, Kainen Teague, Kalie Bryson, Noah Leonhardt, Matt Call, Chelsey Stafford, Gavin Stafford, Harley Stafford, Kaleb Stafford, Braylon Stafford and Cadence Stafford.

She was preceded in death by her father, Terry Stafford Jr.; and grandmothers, Nancy Morgan and Jeanette Driggers.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday at Gastonia First Assembly, 777 S. Myrtle School Road, Gastonia.

A service to celebrate Destiny’s life will also be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Gastonia First Assembly. Burial will conclude at Evergreen Cemetery in Belmont.

If you would like to make a donation instead of flowers, please consider Levine Children’s Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

McEwen Funeral Service at Sharon Memorial Park is serving the Stafford family.

Online condolences may be left at www.mcewenfs.com.