Mary Jane Preston Stafford

Mrs. Henry M. Stafford, (Mary Jane Preston), was born at Paintsville, Ky October 15, 1860. She was the daughter of Mary Jane Perry and Moses Preston. Her mother was reared in Tazewell County, Virginia. It was while visiting friends in Paintsville that her mother came to know Moses Preston. Moses Preston and Mary Jane Perry were married and made their home in Paintsville. To them were born three children. Mary Jane, Jenny (Mrs. Tom Brown) and John.

Mary Jane Preston Stafford was born and reared in the town of Paintsville. Her life is inseparably identified with the town of her nativity. It was here that she attended school here that she knew and loved the children and young people who have, through the years, been her friends and neighbors. It was here that she knew and loved Henry M. Stafford. Her love was constant and bidding eternal. Out of her girlhood romance came the love that through its constancy and tenderness speaks so eloquently for the old fashioned home life.

On Dec 4, 1878, Mary Jane Preston (Mollie) and Henry M. Stafford were married. Both of them had been reared in Paintsville and they continued to live here. The were home loving and home making people. In the building of the home, time, perseverance and consecration are required. The richest contribution that any family can make to society and the nation is the building of a real home. Mollie and Henry M. Stafford accomplished this valuable and abiding work.

Beauty and virtue reach their highest attainment in devotion to home and the duties of a well ordered household. Mrs. Stafford is unexcelled in home and devotion. Only one child, Dr Donaldson G. Stafford of Cincinnati Ohio came to bless the married life of Mr. and Mrs. Stafford. He was carefully reared, trained, and educated. In his profession and life, he pays a daily tribute to his mothers care and training.

Through almost half a century the lives of Henry M and Mollie Stafford flowed on together. Devotion, inspiring and assuring is the best description of their married life. The Golden Wedding with its celebration was only a short time away. Fifty years of happy married life. In all these years have been the constant, faithful devotion God intends when he joins then together. The separation of lives thus joined together; thus blended through long years of mutual understanding and devotion, cannot be accomplished with a severe shock. Life in this world has ended for Mary Jane Stafford. Her Golden Wedding will never be celebrated here. Here husband can hold her only in memory but it will be a sweet and everlasting memory.

Mrs. Stafford, after years of healthy and vigorous life became susceptible to the cold. On account of her growing delicacy in health her husband has, for several yeas taken her to Florida for the winter months. While the no doubt prolonged her life her health continued uncertain. The best available doctors were consulted and their advice and prescriptions followed. She could not get well. On Tuesday, September 27, at the home of her son, Dr. Donald G Stafford. She is survived by her husband and one son and one sister, Mrs. Tom Brown.

Our Lord has said: Whosoever liveth and believith in Me, shall never die." On this statement and the authority of the One who uttered it, we base our hope on Christian certainty. We believe our departed loved ones in the near Hereafter are really very near us.

"Death hides but is does not divide

Thou art but on Christ's other side.

Thou are with Christ and Christ with me.

In Him I still an close to thee."

"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord," for in that invisible world clothed with that body it pleaseth God to give them, they await the resurrection and the Judgment.

"Oh for a neared insight into Heaven,

More knowledge of the glory and the joy,

Which there unto the happy souls is given,

Their intercourse, their worship, their employ.

The Paintsville Herald

October 20, 1927