Charles Ellis “Ellis” STAFFORD, Sr.^{[1, 2]}

1921 - 2015  (93 years)

• Name	Charles Ellis “Ellis” STAFFORD  [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
  Suffix	Sr.
  Birth	26 Aug 1921	Lee County, South Carolina   [9]
  Gender	Male
  HIST	of Sumter, South Carolina CHARLES ELLIS STAFFORD SR. Posted Friday, May 8, 2015 6:00 am Former Sumter County Treasurer Charles Ellis Stafford Sr., widower of Frances Brown Stafford, entered eternal rest on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, at McElveen Manor. He served as treasurer from 1972 to 1985, at which time he retired. Born on Aug. 26, 1921, in Lee County, he was a son of the late George W. Sr. and Lula Newman Stafford. He was a graduate of Edmunds High School and attended Draughon's Business College in Columbia. A charter member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Mr. Stafford was instrumental in organizing the church in 1956; serving on the building committee for all phases of construction; and on many other committees of the church. He taught the senior class of the Sunday school for a number of years. He served as chairman of the membership committee, member of the official board, council on ministries, member of the Wesley Fellowship Class, and the men's club. In recognition for his many years of loyalty, devotion, and dedication to his church, Homecoming Day at Aldersgate on May 2, 1999, was declared as "Charles Ellis Stafford Day." Entering the U.S. Army Air Corps on June 29, 1942, at Shaw Air Force Base, he was later transferred to the Air Transport Command, serving at Hamilton Field, California; the Philippine Islands; and with the Occupation Forces in Atsugi, Japan. He was discharged on Jan. 21, 1946, with the rank of master sergeant. Active in civic affairs, he was a past member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce; Sertoma Club; and the Salvation Army Advisory Board, where he served as chairman during the time the present facility was constructed on Kendrick Street. He was a life member of the American Legion; past commander of American Legion Post 15; the associate chaplain; member of the executive committee; fair committee; and funeral committee. In 1996, he was presented the "Fairman of the Year" award by the S.C. Association of Fairs. During his term as county treasurer, he was recognized as initiating an "Alternate Method of Tax Collecting," which required that all real property taxes be paid within one year from their due date, otherwise the property would be sold for these taxes. He also initiated the collection of city and county taxes, both current and delinquent, by the county treasurer, thereby eliminating the complete city tax department and the delinquent tax department of both the city and county of Sumter. This method of tax collection was approved by the comptroller general of South Carolina and has been adopted by the majority of counties and cities in the state of South Carolina. Survivors include three sons and daughters-in-law, Charles Ellis Stafford Jr. and Barbara Guess Stafford of Lexington, Patrick A. Stafford and Terrie Smith Stafford of Columbia, and Stephen F. Stafford and Sallie Trapp Stafford of Sumter; two brothers, Robert E. "Bobby" Stafford and wife, Sara Ellen, of Sumter, William F. "Billy" Stafford and wife, Marjorie, of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania; three granddaughters, Caroline Stafford Brazell, Allison Raye Stafford and Margaret Stafford Manders; two grandsons, Charles Ellis Stafford III and Stephen F. Stafford Jr.; and five great-grandchildren, Stafford Kinsey Brazell, Isla Fraysse Brazell, Mary Beth Stafford, Sarah Ellis Stafford and Carter Landen Cornell. Celebration of Life Service will be held at noon on Saturday at Aldersgate United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. Webb Belangia officiating. Private burial will be in Sumter Cemetery. Nephews will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be William C. Boykin Jr., Moscoe Johnson, David Mims, Kent Mims, Steve Mims, Allen Prescott, John Propst, Buddy Robinson, Dr. Strat Stavrou, L.B. "Buck" Wells, and members of the Wesley Fellowship Class. The family will receive friends in the church parlor following the memorial service and at other times at the home of Steve and Sallie Stafford, 225 Adams Ave. Memorials may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 211 Alice Drive, Sumter, SC 29150. Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com. Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements, (803) 775-9386.  [5, 6, 7]
  MILI	He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps on June 29, 1942, at Shaw Air Force Base, he was later transferred to the Air Transport Command, serving at Hamilton Field, California; the Philippine Islands; and with the Occupation Forces in Atsugi, Japan. He was discharged on Jan. 21, 1946, with the rank of master sergeant.  [7]
  _UID	A286858F2D5B4E7D97CA530FF2D19B1FCF04
  Death	6 May 2015	McElveen Manor, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina
  Burial	Abt 9 May 2015	Sumter Cemetery, 700 W. Oakland Avenue, Sumter, Sumter County, South Carolina   [7]
  	Elmore-Hill-McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, Sumter, South Carolina
  Person ID	I158406	Singleton and Related Families
  Last Modified	17 Jun 2019

  
  

  Father	George Washington STAFFORD, Sr.,   b. 24 May 1886   d. Bef 6 Jan 2008 (Age < 121 years)
  Mother	Allie Lula “Lula” NEWMAN,   b. 1 Dec 1890   d. 12 Jun 1981 (Age 90 years)
  _UID	4F1BA66794F14ED48C47884C47B715CFA7D6
  _UID	4F1BA66794F14ED48C47884C47B715CFA7D6
  Family ID	F57213	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Frances Delores BROWN,   b. 19 Jan 1920   d. Bef 6 May 2015 (Age < 95 years)
  _UID	A6E92FC42B7F48A79EB7581D418FDEAA3D5E
  _UID	A6E92FC42B7F48A79EB7581D418FDEAA3D5E
  Children	1. Living   2. Living   3. Living
  Family ID	F108069	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Mar 2026

  
  

• Sources

  [S26803] Lamb-Stafford. [S26804] Lamb-Stafford. [S846] James Belton Newman and Esther Gupton Newman, page 96, 104. [S7130] Bertha S. WInkles. [S9884] Jeanette S. Parnell. [S21973] Stafford-Manders. [S22429] Charles Ellis Stafford Sr. [S22665] Stafford-Manders. [S846] James Belton Newman and Esther Gupton Newman, page 96.