Claude “Sarge” Welton Stafford, Jr, 90, of Hattiesburg passed away on May 9, 2020, at Merit Health Wesley Medical Center. Services will be held Tuesday, May 12, 2020, at the Stafford Residence, 1915 Lakeview Rd, in Hattiesburg at 3:00 p.m. followed by burial in Forrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
Mr. Stafford was a member of Oak Grove Baptist Church. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War and Vietnam, and retired as a Sargent Major after 20 years of honorable service. He was the owner of both Sarge’s Short Stop and Stafford Sporting Goods. He was a charter member of the Pine Belt Lions Club and the A.F.T.E.A. in Hattiesburg. He enjoyed to fish.
He was preceded in death by a son, Claude Welton Stafford, III; a step-son, William “Billy” Franklin; and three sisters.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Swartz Stafford of Hattiesburg; four children, Becky Stafford Cagle (Denny) of Purvis, Benjamin “Ben” Stafford of Ellisville, Karen Watts (Mark) of Apopka, FL, and Tony Stafford (Tracy) of Ellisville; three step-children, Tony Franklin (Tammy) of Oak Grove, Donald Thomas (Connie) of Carrabelle, FL, and Tammy Lott (Lee) of Sumrall; twenty-five grandchildren; forty-four great grandchildren; four great-great grandchildren; and one sister, Alice Marie Gill of Indianapolis, IN.
