Martha (Stafford) Whitaker

Martha was a resident of Columbus, Ohio for more than 69 years, she was born in Barnesville, GA on April 19, 1924 to Alec and Lucille (O’Neal) Stafford. Martha was a devout baptist and an early and long time member of Trinity Baptist Church. Martha is preceded in death by her husband Walter Whitaker, her father Alec Stafford, her mother Lucille LaMar, step-father: Julius LaMar sister Mary Sullivan, brothers: Ellis Stafford, Louis Stafford,and Julian LaMar, sister-in-law Lillian Stafford, nieces: Margaret Stafford, Inez Sullivan, Sylvia Steptoe, nephews: Larry Stafford, Samuel Stafford Jr. and cousin Robert Hugh. Martha is survived by her sister Linda (Louis) Ferrara, brother Samuel (Yvonne) Stafford Sr., special nephew Ronald LaMar, special nieces: ChrisLaNene LaMar, C. Yvette Whitaker, and Akila Alston. Nephews: Allen Stafford, Eric Stafford, Dennis Stafford, Alex Stafford, Lawrence Stafford, nieces: Gwenette Stafford, Brenda Stafford, Zebada (Peaches) Stafford, and a host of other great-nieces, great-nephews, relatives and friends. Martha grew up on a farm in Barnesville, GA, where her father was a sharecropper of cotton. They raised chickens, pigs, and cows, and because she worked on the farm Martha was only able to complete 3 years of schooling. She did quite well despite her limited education. Martha met Walter Whitaker in her late teens and later married in 1950. They were quite the couple! Martha and Walter were also surrogate parents of her sister Linda after her mother passed in 1968 and they were proud surrogate grandparents to Ron and Chrissy, though they affectionately called them Aunt Martha and Uncle Walt, they were so much more. Family was important to Martha, so much so she moved next door to her brother Louis and sister-in-law Lillian, on Ellsworth Ave., it was there that many a holiday was celebrated, fresh baked sweet potato pies were baked and soul food reigned supreme. BBQ's with homemade ice cream and plenty of love filled the air. We laughed and smiled and loved the sweetness of our beautiful Aunt Martha. Martha was a caregiver for the Yontz and Caldwell families, and later went on to work at Fawcett Center for Tomorrow until she retired in 1984. Martha would garner stares as she modeled hats and clothing, she had a flair for fashion. Martha was a member of the usher board and choir at her church. Her smile was infectious her love was even more so.. She will live on forever in our memories. Poem: They Say There is a Reason They say there is a reason They say that time will heal But neither time nor reason, Will change they way we feel, For no one knows the heartache, That lies behind our smiles, No one knows how many times, We have broken down and cried, We want to tell you something So there won’t be any doubt, You’re so wonderful to think of, But So Hard to BE WITHOUT.