Mary Frances Loftis Stafford

Mary Frances Loftis Stafford, age 82, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, January 21, 2012. Frances was born in Meridian, MS. to Emma and W.T. Loftis Sr. and was a resident of Biloxi for 47 years. She was a very loving mother and an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Biloxi. She served her community in many ways over her lifetime. She was a past president of Community Center Corp helping to organize the West Biloxi Community Center and served as a board member of Biloxi Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. She was named Career Woman of the Year by the Lighthouse Business and Professional Women's Club in 1984. In 1965, as one of the earliest employees of WLOX, Frances learned many aspects of broadcasting and worked in most departments except production. She was honored in 1994 as a Good Will Ambassador for WLOX-TV and after 29 years, retired as Personnel Manager and Administrative Assistant. She was appointed in 1994 by then Governor Kirk Fordice to serve as a board member of the Gulf Coast Coliseum for four years. She was a charter member and charter President of Quota International of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and served as a board vice president of I'Epee Deaf Center. In 2010 in recognition of her 30 years of dedication to Quota service, she was made an Honorary Member for Life and the Quotarian of the Year Award now bears her name as the Frances Stafford Quotarian of the Year Award. Frances was also a member of Billikins Carnival Krewe and served as ball captain on two occasions. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, husband, Eddie Stafford Jr. and stepson, Michael Stafford. Survivors include a sister, Ruth Gayle Pigue of Biloxi, son, Stephen Taylor (Carole) of Pensacola, FL, daughter, Melodie Taylor of Birmingham, AL, stepson, Tim Stafford (Sue), stepdaughter, Susan Lepre (Lyndell), grandson, Blake Taylor (Rebecca) of Miami, FL, stepgrandsons, Scott (Margo), Mark and David Stafford, Lynn (Terry) and Brian (Barbie) Lepre, special grandson, Jordan Salloum, special daughters, Jan Salloum and Gerry Dayton and six step great-grandchildren. Aunt Frances will be missed by nieces and nephews as well as many other relatives and friends she loved and was loved by. She made friends easily and her heart was full of love that she gave freely to all of those who knew her. In this her last year she made new friends while living at the Loyalton as well as Heaven's Harbor Private Care Home. Mama enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest, rolling with the punches and always a hand of friendship or help was held out to all she encountered. The family would like to thank the kind physicians and nursing staff that tendered her needs at Gulfport Memorial and the special gratitude to Debbie Roberson and her staff at Heaven's Harbor Private Care Home where she spent her final days. Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 24, 2012, from 5 pm until 7 pm, at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. On Wednesday, January 25, 2012, there will be a 1 PM Celebration of Life service in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow in Southern Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to I'Epee Deaf Center. Pallbearers will be David, Scott and Mark Stafford, Brian and Lynn Lepre, Jordan Salloum, Douglas Lee Pigue, Sonny, Chris and Andy Glenn and Blake Taylor.