Celina Avo (STAFFORD)

1885–1982

My paternal great-grandfather, William Riley "Will Dow" Stafford (1881–1955), holding his son (my grandfather who raised me) Van Dow Stafford (1907–1992).

My paternal great-grandmother, Celina Avo (Stafford) Stafford (1885–1982), holding her son Frank Tensley Stafford (1909–1992).

Place: Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee
Photo uploaded by Tammy Stafford-Bellflower

Biography

Celina Avo Stafford was born on January 28, 1885, in Jackson County, Tennessee. Her father, Ross Stafford (1867–1907), was 17, and her mother, Rhoda A. (Harris) Stafford (1857–?) was 27.

She married her paternal first cousin, William Riley "Will" Stafford (1881–1955) on August 27, 1905. They had ten children over 25 years. Celina passed away on December 23, 1982, in Gainesboro at age 97 and is buried there.

Family Note: Celina’s father, Ross Stafford, was the full sibling of Will’s mother, Martha J. (Stafford) Stafford (1861–1910). Her name appears as both Stafford and Harris on marriage records.

Anecdote from Van (my grandfather):
A drunken fight once broke out between Celina’s father (Ross) and her father-in-law, Lorenzo Dow Stafford Sr. (1858–1940), over moonshine. Lorenzo stabbed Ross, who died two weeks later from infection. Lorenzo reportedly stayed by his side until the end, regretful of what happened.

Nashville Banner – May 17, 1907 (Page 10)

Celina’s Siblings:
John David Stafford (1886–1961) – Died in Nashville, burial unknown
Cora Belle (Stafford) Stafford (1887–1976) – Married cousin Eliga Dow Stafford (1891–1971)
Maggie (Stafford) Hamlet (1889–?) – Burial unknown
Robert Lee Stafford (1891–1975) – Clark Memorial Cemetery, Gainesboro
Helen Jeanette “Nettie” (Stafford) Stafford (1897–?) – Married cousin Lee Stafford (1896–1969)

Note: Three sisters married brothers who were also their first cousins. That’s why their last names didn’t change.

Children of Celina and William Riley Stafford:
• Van Dow Stafford (1907–1992) – Raised me and my brother Timmy with his wife, Ethel (Biggs) Stafford (1909–1983)
• Willie Cordell Stafford (1911–1969) – Died in Detroit, burial unknown
• Vilvie (Stafford) Elkins (1913–1986) – Pharris Cemetery
• Hattie May (Stafford) Martin (1914–1943) – Pharris Cemetery (unmarked)
• Wade Lovell Stafford (1917–1940) – Pharris Cemetery (unmarked)
• Roscoe Stafford (1923–1957) – Pharris Cemetery
• Averette Stafford (1915–1982) – Pharris Cemetery
Note: His daughter, Brenda Joyce Stafford, married Van’s son P.J. “Pete” Stafford — another first cousin marriage • Versie Lou (Stafford) Davidson (1920–1939) – Pharris Cemetery
• Monedith (Stafford) Huffines (1932–1980) – Pharris Cemetery
• Frank Tensley Stafford (1909–1992) – Tuttle Cemetery, married Willie Flossie Biggs (Ethel’s sister)

More Memories:
Celina lived well into my teenage years and stayed with her daughter Vilvie. My grandfather Van moved our family back to Tennessee to help care for her. He had already brought Woody C. Biggs (Ethel’s father) into our home before that, when we lived in Franklin, Kentucky.

Celina and Vilvie were both kind, gentle women. Timmy and I loved listening to their stories about childhood and life in Jackson County.

Memorial Links:

Celina Avo Stafford on Find A Grave (Virtual Cemetery)

Son:
Van Dow Stafford (1907–1992)
We Remember | FamilySearch | Find A Grave

Grandson:
P.J. “Pete” Stafford (1932–2012)
We Remember | Find A Grave | FamilySearch

Granddaughter:
Jean (Stafford) Ashley (1931–2005)
BillionGraves

Great-Grandson:
Timmy Lee Stafford (1966–2004)
We Remember | Find A Grave | FamilySearch | BillionGraves

Great-Granddaughter:
Beverly (Stafford) Laursen (1963–2022)

My Social Pages:
BlueSky | Pinterest | StoryGraph

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Stafford-Tidwell Family Tree
Created by Tammy Jean Stafford-Bellflower