Name: Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home
Address: Silver Spring, MD

We are heartbroken but very blessed to have had our father in our lives for so long…. my amazing dad, Stafford Isaiah Toliver, passed away on February 6, 2025, at the age of 97 after a long battle with cancer.  He was a fighter and a very special, unique person.  My dad loved life!  He loved to keep busy, and he treasured his independence, offering to help in whatever way he could.  My dad was surrounded by myself, my siblings, in-laws, his brothers, his grandchildren & other loved ones, including his great grandchildren, in his final days.  He was a fighter until the very end, and he lived his life to the fullest.  He is among the angels in heaven, I do believe, because he touched the lives of so many with his personality, grace, strength, determination, expectations, caring spirit, and wisdom. 

My father devoted his life to family, friends, neighbors, church, SEMA/SFDS alumni, service to others, and his local community.  As a proud army veteran, avid card player, skilled carpenter, cruiser and world traveler, he  had countless stories and experiences to share.  He loved to talk and attend socials.  He was extremely outgoing, well-read, and sociable.  He loved his daily newspaper, sports, good food, holidays, family gatherings, and catching up with friends and family on current events in addition to the latest happenings to stay busy and fulfilled!  

My dad is deeply missed.  RIP dear father for a life (legacy) well-lived ❤️ 🙏🏼  

Your loving daughter,
Debbie

Deepest condolences to the Toliver Family over the loss of Stafford. We offer our heartfelt love and support at this difficult time. 
Love,
Dolores and Karen Morris

I would like to send my condolences to the Toliver family and friends on the loss of Mr. Stafford Toliver. Our family grew up across the street from the Tolivers and used to do so many fun things together including activities with the old Good Neighbors Club and the Cardettes (the Pinochle Club.).  

He was a great role model for all of the parents and kids in the neighborhood and after my parents died was a father-like figure to me. Mr. Toliver was always very active and excited about life. He would talk about what he had been doing with his children as they became adults, his extensive traveling with Ms. Lois and always took the time to find out how I was doing. His smile, his stories and his love will be missed.

It has been a joy knowing Mr. Stanford Toliver. We saw him laughing as he played cards. We saw him being an impressive dad as he spent time with family and us as friends of the family. We enjoyed his wisdom and just being around him. Mr. Toliver, you will be missed. Our condolences to the Toliver family. From Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Bernadine Douglas and Family

I was introduced to Stafford Toliver by his daughter, Debora Toliver Ellis, not long after we became friends at Howard University. Mr. and Mrs. Toliver welcomed me to join many family gatherings over the years. His beautiful, accomplished family, including his wonderful grandchildren and great grandchildren, is a living testament to his exemplary life and leadership. 

Many years after I moved away from DC, Mr. Toliver befriended my Dad, Jim Poindexter, and invited him over for poker with his family and friends. My Dad looked forward to those games, which cheered him and provided companionship in the years after my Mom passed away. I will always be grateful for that act of friendship, and I will always remember Mr. Toliver’s big smile, his sense of humor, his gregariousness, and his welcoming kindness. He will be dearly missed!

We wish the Toliver family and friends comfort, support, and sympathy in their loss (our loss too) of Mr. Stafford (dad, pops) Toliver, a special presence who surely will be missed by all who knew him. 
Love, Sylvia & Wendell Joice

Dear Cousins,
Sincerest Condolences on the passing of Dad Toliver. May he rest in eternal peace. He will always be with you. Know that we are with you in prayer.  

Much love to you and the family.

Faithfully,
Eileen & Frantz

My uncle Stafford was truly an amazing man, father, husband and of course uncle. I have so many memories of my uncle, and even though you're no longer here, I'll cherish them forever. So until I see your smile again, I'll hold you in my heart and mind. A shining example, my uncle the best of humankind. Rest in eternal peace. 

Love Yolanda

As one of Stafford’s nephews, I have watched him my entire life. To me Uncle Stafford has demonstrated a person who has lived life to the fullest! Stafford lived it with such joy and fruitfulness.  It brings me to the fruit of the spirit, which says in Galatians 5:22-23 “ 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, patience, kind-ness, goodness, faith-fulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
This is what I saw in him and May we all exhibit these in our own lives.
Rest in Gods peace and presence. 
May God comfort all of the Tolivers and other family members during this time.
🙏🏽

My condolences to the family.
I did not see Uncle Isaiah often. When we were together or on the phone, we enjoyed our coversations and sharing family stories. I'll remember his warmth and smile.
His oldest niece, Agatha

To my grade school classmate Michael: I was so sorry to hear of your father‘s death. He was a wonderful man and left a wonderful legacy. May he rest in peace!

Condolences to family and friends in the loss of your loved one. I wish you peace and comfort as you grieve.

Mr. Toliver was quite the gaming enthusiast until the end. The receptionist at the Sunrise Rehabilitation Center in Silver Spring excitedly recalled how Mr. T taught her how to play either poker or bid whist. This was only a few weeks before his transition to that big gaming room in the sky.

Stafford Toliver realizing he is attending his surprise  birthday party.

Stafford and Lois Toliver at Stafford’s 90th birthday surprise party celebration  at Mrs K’s Toll House in Silver Spring, MD. 9/2/2017

There are no words that can adequately descibe the sense of loss you and your family must be feeling. The only comfort I can offer is to know your father lived a long, rich and full life. And that his passing puts him beyond the reach of any illness, and now resides in a far better place. His living like his passing has touched all that knew him. But his life has enriched all that knew him, to that end he leaves us with the best of him. It was my pleasure to know Mr.T
God bless you and comfort you and your family.
Eric Brewington

As the father of lifelong friends who grew up  six doors down from me in NE DC, I've known  Mr. Toliver essentially my whole life. He was a wonderful man, a great family man, wonderful neighbor, and excellent role model for all of the neighborhood kids back in the day.

Our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers go out to the entire  Toliver family..

Vincent and Matrice Browne  and family

I remember meeting Stafford and his daughter (Debbra) for the first time at one of the St. Emma St. Francis alumni events. He shared with the group his experiences and fond memories from attending St. Emma Military Academy. We noted how life at the rock when he was there with that of our time there. We will all miss his insight, the memories he shared and how we laughed at our experiences.    
	M. Foster Hull
	S.E.M.A.   Class of 1969

Mr. Toliver was the patriarch of the historic Saint Emma Military Academy alumni! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YA3rtfA3gZM

Since its opening in 1895, our school has had no more than 300 cadets in any given year. But, along with our sister school, Saint Francis de Sales, our alumni are all over America and are still going strong, and Mr. Toliver ensured that! 

As we age, Mr. Toliver's presence at each reunion left no excuses for younger alumni not to be present to celebrate our legacy. Our patriarch was the highest-ranking cadet in his class of 1947 and has always been the highest-ranking alumni in our hearts.

His leadership, inspiration, and mere presence will be sorely missed. The African proverb says that if we continue to say our ancestors' names, they will never die, and we promise to continue to say his name. I extend my condolences to Captain Stafford Isaiah Toliver's family and ask God to receive him with open arms and bring comfort to you, his many friends, and alumni.

OBITUARY

Stafford Toliver

September 6, 1927 – February 6, 2025

Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home

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