Gainesboro - Mrs. Ethel (Biggs) Stafford, 74, died Monday at Jackson County Hospital after a short illness.
Services were held at 2 p.m. on Sept. 23rd at Anderson Funeral Home.
Burial: Pharris Cemetery in the McCoinsville community in Jackson County.

A native of Jackson County, she was the daughter of the late Woody and Cora (Rush) Biggs. At the time of her passing, she was survived by her husband, Van D. Stafford; three daughters: Rhoda (Noil) Williams of Pleasant View, TN, Jean (Clifford) Ashley of Opelika, AL, and Lucille (James D.) Stanley of Nashville, TN; four sons: P.J. (Brenda) Stafford of Old Hickory, TN, Freeman (Mae) Stafford of Tompkinsville, KY, Woody (Linda) Stafford of LaVergne, TN, and Ronnie (Vickie) Stafford of Pleasant View, TN; two grandchildren she raised: Tammy Jean (Stafford) of TN, and Timmy Lee Stafford of TN; eighteen grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, two sisters: Willie (Frank) Stafford of Westmoreland, TN, and Hallie (Marshall) Deweese of Gainesboro; five half-sisters: Willie Adams, Marie Wade, Margaret Moore, Irene McCormick, and Margaret Lampley, and three half-brothers: Thomas Biggs, Cordell Biggs, and Eugene Biggs.
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memorial/tribute/biography
added 9-26-2023
by Tammy Stafford-Bellflower

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Ethel was born on August 21, 1909, in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee. She passed away at the Jackson County Hospital in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennesse after suffering a major heart attack on September 19, 1983, at the age of 74. Burial: Pharris Cemetery in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee.

Her husband was Van Dow Stafford 1907-1992. Van later passed away in Opelika, Lee County, Alabama. Burial: Pharris Cemetery in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee.

Her parents:
Woody C. Biggs 1884–1974 of Tennessee and Cora Liza (Rush) Biggs 1891–1964. Burial: Denson Cemetery Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee. *Note About the Family Tree/history* Cora and Woody were divorced at one time - Cora married Van's grandfather, Lorenzo Dow Stafford Sr. 1858–1940, and had children from that marriage - later, Cora and Woody remarried. Woody had married two other times and had children from those marriages. Woody also had other children...Out of Wedlock.

Ethel's siblings:
Charles Biggs 1911–1911 Burial: Unknown gravesite in Tennessee (Charlie's parents: Cora and Woody)

Willie Flossie (Biggs) Stafford 1912–2003 Burial: Tuttle Cemetery Sumner County, Tennessee. *She was called Aunt Bill by most of us in the family* (Willie's parents: Cora and Woody) *Note About the Family Tree / History* Willie married her brother-in-law (Van's brother) Frank Tensley Stafford 1909-1992 *no blood relation-just a set of siblings married another set of siblings*

Hallie (Biggs) Stafford DeWeese 1915–1996 Burial: Pharris Cemetery in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee (Hallie's parents: Cora and Woody) *Note About the Family Tree/History* Hallie's 1st marriage: Sam Stafford 1907–1961(had children from that marriage) Hallie's last marriage: Charles M. DeWeese 1900–1985(no children from that marriage). Also note: Charles M. DeWeese's mother, Mary Ann (Biggs) Deweese 1873-1961, was the sister of Hallie's father, Woody C. Biggs.

Ethel's half-siblings

Lorenzo Dow Stafford Jr. 1922–1968(Dow died in a car accident along with Roy Lee Mooneyhan 1929–1968; Roy was the brother-in-law of Van and Ethel's son, Laurence Freeman Stafford 1935–2014. Freeman was married to Mae Jewel (Mooneyhan) Stafford 1939–2000 ). Lorenzo's Burial: Denson Cemetery in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee( Lorenzo's parents: Lorenzo Dow Stafford Sr. 1858-1940 and Cora 1891-1964)

Bertha Margaret (Stafford) Lampley 1929–1991 Burial: Lampley Cemetery in Fairview, Williamson County, Tennessee. (Bertha's parents: Lorenzo Dow Stafford Sr. 1858-1940 and Cora 1891-1964)

Mary Irene (Stafford) McCormick 1921-2001 Burial: Unknown. (Irene's parents: Lorenzo Dow Stafford Sr. 1858-1940 and Cora 1891-1964)

Joe Mitchell Stafford 1933-1934 Burial: Unknown. (Joe's parents: Lorenzo Dow Stafford Sr. 1858-1940 and Cora Liza (Rush)1981-1964).
(A Note about Joe)
His death was due to whooping cough.

--- Daisy V Stafford 1931-1931 Burial: Denson Cemetery in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee. (Daisy's parents: Lorenzo Dow Stafford Sr. 1858-1940 and Cora Liza (Rush)1981-1964)

Luther Edward Biggs 1918–1977 Burial: Denson Cemetery in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee. (Luther's parents: Woody and Mary)

Ruby Marie (Biggs) Wade 1920–2002 Burial: Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee (Ruby's parents: Woody and Mary)

Willie Lee (Biggs) Adams 1920–2004 Burial: Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee (Willie's parents: Mallie and Woody)

Thomas H. Biggs 1921–1999 Burial: Maplewood Cemetery in Marion, Williamson County, Illinois. (Thomas's parents: Woody and Sallie)

Molly Corrina (Biggs) 1925–1926 Burial: Unknown in Tennessee. (Molly's parents: Woody and Sallie)

Eugene Biggs 1927–2003 Burial: Church of Christ Cemetery in Eagle Lake, Polk County, Florida. (Eugene's parents: Woody and Sallie)

Glenn Biggs 1923–2001 Burial: Spring Hill Cemetery in Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee. (Glenn's parents: Woody and Sallie)
*A Note About Glenn: He was married to Mary Kathleen (ANDERSON) Biggs 1929-2022. Mary was the sibling of my maternal grandmother, Margaret Arene (Anderson) Tidwell 1923-2007.

Margaret Elizabeth (Biggs) Wilson 1930–2003 Burial: Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Goodlettsville, Davidson County, Tennessee (Margaret's parents: Woody and Sallie)

Mary Helen (Biggs) McCallister 1929–1970 Burial: Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Goodlettsville, Davidson County, Tennessee. (Mary's parents: Woody and Sallie)

(At the time of Ethel's death)
Survivors include her Sons: P.J "Pete" Stafford of Old Hickory, TN, Freeman Stafford of Gainesboro, TN, Woody "Buddy" Stafford of Antioch, TN, and Ronnie Stafford of Joelton, TN. Her Daughters: Rhoda (Stafford) Williams of Pleasant View, TN, Lucille (Stafford) Stanley of Joelton, TN, and Jean (Stafford) Ashley of Opelika, Alabama. Two of her grandchildren that she and her husband, Van, raised: Timmy Lee Stafford and Tammy Jean (Stafford) Mayberry --- (now Tammy (Stafford) Bellflower), and a slew of other grandchildren & great-grandchildren.
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(Since her death)

The grandson she raised: Timmy Lee Stafford 1966-2004 Burial: Garden Hills Cemetery in Opelika, Lee County, Alabama

Ethel's Sons:

--- P.J. "Pete Stafford 1932–2012 Burial: Pharris Cemetery in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee

--- Laurence Freeman Stafford 1935–2014 Burial: Pharris Cemetery in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee

--- Woody "Buddy" Stafford 1940–2013 Burial: Hudgins Cemetery in Fairview, Williamson County, Tennessee

Ethel's Daughters:

--- Lucille (Stafford) Stanley 1944–2013 Burial: Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee

--- Jean (Stafford) Ashley 1931–2005 Burial: Garden Hills Cemetery in Opelika, Lee County, Alabama

--- Rhoda Mae (Stafford) Williams 1928–2013 Burial: Hermitage Memorial Gardens in Old Hickory, Davidson County, Tennessee
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As of today's date: Jan 7, 2022
Ethel's son, Ronnie Stafford (living), and Granddaughter (daughter of P.J. "Pete" Stafford 1932-2012) who was raised by Ethel, Tammy Jean (Stafford) Bellflower (living).
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*Another Note*
Three children of Van and Ethel died before adulthood:

One, during birth, (while Ethel was very sick and out-of-it (off and on) with a high fever)

and

One, shortly after birth

and

One(female), around 7 years old (from some kind of stomach virus/flu)

I do not know where the children's burial site is. I remember my grandparents often talking about being sad that there ended up being a road built over the children's gravesites.