God planted a beautiful, sweet rose in His garden by the name of Rosie Ann Smith on August 3, 1933. She was born to Phillip Smith, Sr. and Carrie Lee Fortson Smith in Coushatta, Louisiana. She matriculated through school and graduated from Springfield High School in 1952. She was a student at Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana where she pursued a degree in Elementary Education. She met the love of her life, Charles H. Stafford, Sr. in high school and was happily married on January 19, 1955 until The Lord called him home on December 6, 1994.
Rosie Ann Stafford was a proud and dedicated member of Fontaine First Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor John Henry Brown. She was a member for 50+ years and actively served on various committees and auxiliaries, including President of The Mission Society and member of the Pastor Compensation Committee, Women’s Uplift, Sunday School, and Women’s Choir. She actively participated and generously gave her time in her community by helping the sick and shut in, visiting nursing homes, and teaching young school children as an educator. People were always drawn to her beautiful smile and charming demeanor. She was affectionately known as “Momma Stafford” to many of her surrogate children and grandchildren. She was an excellent cook and baker, and her home would oftentimes be filled with family and friends who would drop by for her famous Sunday dinners after church.
Rosie leaves to cherish her legacy: her four devoted children, Sharon Phillips, Charlotte Whaley (James, Sr.), Charles Stafford, Jr. (Lisa), and Cedric Stafford; nine grandchildren: Allen Phillips (Lysa), Andrea Phillips, James Whaley, Jr. (DJ), Candace Whaley, Charles Stafford III, Andre Stafford, Charlise Stafford, Shelby Williams (Micah), and Cedric Stafford, Jr.; two great-grandchildren, Kameron Stafford and Noelle Williams; one sister, Katie Henson of Houston, TX; one sister-in-law, Rose Mosley of Coushatta, LA; one godson Rev. William McKnight (Iretha) and a host of nieces, nephews and dear friends. She is preceded in death by her forever love and husband of 39 years, Charles H. Stafford, Sr.; son-in-law, Alford L. Phillips; parents, Phillip and Carrie Smith; and siblings, Phillips Smith, Jr. and Levoria Beaner.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18