Joe Melvin Stafford's Obituary
Joe Melvin Stafford was born to Mary Stafford on April 2nd, 1951, in Dallas, Texas. Being the firstborn of eleven, Joe carried a lot of weight as an example for his siblings to come. He was the comedian of the family, which meant that there was never a dull moment.
Known by his own nickname of Hubba Bubba, Joe gave out various nicknames to those close to him. Outside of giving his loved ones nicknames, Joe’s hobbies ranged from car racing and fishing to mechanical work, which became a profession.
In 1980, Joe worked for Hensley Industries and became certified in preventative maintenance, electrostatics, and airless theory. The 90’s saw Joe employed by PepsiCo and leading teams as a manager in other employment ventures. He worked hard, but that did not prevent him from missing time with family as the decades went on. He was the uncle that ate the food that the children did not want so they would avoid getting into trouble. At the age of seventy-two, Joe rededicated his life to the Lord and did what he did best until the very end and that was to make his family laugh.
He is preceded in death by his father and mother, Mary; aunts, Lillie Marie Lampkin and Shirley Ann Jones-Edwards; uncles, Sidney Stafford and Kenneth Jones; sisters, Frances Stafford, Diane Johnson, and Edna Stafford; brother, Charles Stafford; and nephews, Richard Stafford and David Stafford.
Joe is survived by children, Rodney McGruder (Tierra) and Robbi Reed; three brothers, Kenneth Stafford (Billie), Ray Stafford (Denise), and Michael Antwine; three sisters, Betty Stafford, Doris Stafford, and Yolanda Chambers; eight grandchildren, two uncles, twenty-nine nieces and nephews, a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, and other family and friends.
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