John Carr Stanford

John Carr Stanford, 77, transitioned home to be with our heavenly Father on July 10, 2016. He was born December 12, 1938 in Montgomery, Alabama to Thomas Stanford, Sr. and Beatrice Martin Stanford. He was the third of four children; Thomas Jr., Ellen, and Ethel Mae. During his youth, his uncle Payton “Big Uncle” Martin and his aunt Adeline “Big Momma” Martin became his guardians. As a young adult, he held a number of jobs and apprenticed as a plumber. He also joined thousands of others in the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It was around this time in the late 1950s that he met his wife, Mattie Williams. They would eventually fall in love and get married on June 17, 1961. From their union, three children were born; John, ‘Felecia and Henry. John and Mattie left Montgomery and moved to Muskegon, Michigan in the mid-1960s looking for a better life and more opportunities. He started his career in automotive manufacturing with a job at Campbell, Wyant, and Cannon Foundry Company. In Muskegon, he accepted Christ as his savior and was baptized at the Spring Street Missionary Baptist Church. John and Mattie would eventually leave Muskegon for Cleveland, Ohio where he worked for Ford Motor Company. After staying several years in Ohio, John and Mattie moved back to Muskegon Michigan to work for Campbell, Wyant and Cannon Foundry Company and Sealed Power Corporation. In 2007, John and Mattie moved to Columbus, Ohio not too long after his retirement. John loved golfing, fishing, high school football and basketball, supporting his favorite college and professional athletic teams, and fixing cars as a hobby. Predeceased in death by his parents, guardians, brother; and wife Mattie of 53 years. He is survived by his children John (Robin) Stanford, Felecia Stanford, and Henry (Leslie) Stanford of Columbus; his three grandchildren Nia, Warrick and Jerrick of Columbus; sibling’s Ellen Rudolph and Ethel Mae Williams of Montgomery; a devoted cousin Johnny (Loretta) Martin of Muskegon; a devoted friend Clifton Gause of Muskegon; nephews, nieces, cousins and a host of other friends.