Wanda Kay Maye Stafford

Wanda Kay Maye Stafford, age 71, passed away on August 13, 2026, at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Catawba County. She was born on November 24, 1954, in Shawsville, Virginia. She was the second of four children by Andrew Dean Maye and Helen Moody Maye. They moved around the mountainous towns of North Carolina and Virginia 17 different times until the family finally settled down in Taylorsville, NC. Her father, Dean said Taylorsville was the best place he found to raise a family, and Wanda continued in those footsteps right here in the Ellendale community of Taylorsville.

She always worked on the family farm, raising chickens, cattle, and horses. She also worked many years in the hosiery and textile industries making socks at Huffman Hosiery and Anthony Hosiery. But it was her love of the Lord, family, animals, and nature that held a sweet spot in her heart. She loved to go horse riding and camping trips with her husband of nearly 50 years, Carl David Stafford. She loved tending to her horses and running a little saddle and tack shop there on the farm. People would come from all around to just sit on the porch and talk about horses and trade on saddles and tack.

She was saved at Three forks Baptist Church as a young girl, but was a member and raised her family at Poplar Springs Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Carl Stafford, sons, Stacy Harrington (Treva), Isreal Harrington (Angie), sister, Kim Wooten (David), brother, Randy Maye, five grandchildren, Sage Harrington Cook (Justin), Gracie Harrington, Skylar Harrington, Hallie Harrington, Mcartney Harrington, and one great-grandchild, Cayson Cook.

Including her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother Kenny Maye.

A visitation will be held Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Poplar Springs Baptist Church from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The funeral service will be Sunday, August 16, 2026, at Poplar Springs Baptist Church at 3:00 pm. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Rev. Cody Bullman will officiate. Skylar Harrington, Justin Cook, Dawson Elder, Shannon Oxentine, and Landon Borders will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Poplar Springs Baptist Church, 4710 All Healing Springs Road, Taylorsville, NC 28681.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Alexander Funeral and Cremation Service.

Condolences may be sent to www.alexfuneralservice.com