Mrs. Ramona Lee Hicks Stafford was born on October 19, 1939 as the first child of Jesse Lee and Bessie Lee Hicks. She was reared in Sanford, NC. She departed this life and entered into eternal rest on Monday, October 22, 2007 at Forsyth Medical Center after a brief illness.

Ramona loved the Lord and accepted Christ as her personal Savior at a very early age. Her faith in God was reflected, especially in the last years of her life, as she sought to get her heart right with Him. While living in Garner, NC she was a faithful member of Springfield Baptist church in Auburn, NC and she was also a faithful member of Goler Memorial AME Zion Church in Winston-Salem, NC.

Ramona was educated in the Lee County Public Schools and graduated from the W. B. Wicker High School in 1957. Upon graduating, she attended Fayetteville State University where she received her Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught school for over thirty years in the Randolph and Wake County School Systems.

Ramona was married for forty-four years to Frank Allison Stafford, Jr. They met in Sanford, NC and later married after she completed her education at Fayetteville State. They reared their children at their primary residence in Garner, NC and spent their summers and holidays at their home in Winston-Salem, NC.

Ramona was a loving mother to all of her children; Vincent Stafford (Terrae), Marilyn Stafford, Lenora Williams (Adrian), Bobby Stafford (April), and Shauna Stafford. She was crazy in love with her grandchildren, Jaha (aka Vaughn), Adam, Nicholas, Matrisha, Meredith, Diana, Miracle, Allyiah, Josiah, and Zoe. She did whatever she could to support all of them and to let them know that they were loved.

She leaves to cherish her memories all of her children and grandchildren previously mentioned; two loving step-sons, Dennis Lewis and Frank McKissick of Winston-Salem, NC; her brother, Marshall (Elma) Hicks; her sister, Peggy Hicks Joyner; her grandmother, Geraldine Seymore; two nephews, Derrick and Darryl Hicks of Maryland; faithful caregivers, Jessica Lyons and Angela Albright; and a host of good friends and acquaintances.

Funeral services will be held at 12 Noon Saturday, October 27, 2007 from the Goler Memorial AME Zion Church, 630 Patterson Avenue, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 with Reverend Dr. Seth O. Lartey officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery. The family visitation will be held from 11am until 12 Noon on Saturday at the Church.