Edwin Wayne Stanford

Edwin "Wayne" Stanford, age 85, of Adairsville, Georgia, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Visitation will be held on April 4, 2024, at noon at Thomas Funeral Home, followed by a celebration of life at 1:00 pm at Thomas Funeral Home. Wayne is survived by his wife, Karen Newberry Stanford, his wife of thirty-seven years; his daughter, Sabrina Falkenhagen, and her husband, Jay Falkenhagen; daughter, Leigh Stanford; and stepdaughter, Kristina Ferguson. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Taylor Barton, Elizabeth Dutch, Andrew Kitchen, Audrey Sinquefield, Riley Sinquefield, Aiden Ferguson, and Jase Ferguson.

Wayne was born December 6, 1938, in Premont, Texas, to Ben Stanford and Gladys Bull. He lived in various parts of Texas as his father worked in the oil industry. In 1955, Wayne's father went to South Georgia to search for oil. Wayne started his junior year at Seminole County High School. At Seminole County High, he played football, basketball, and ran track. Wayne remained an avid sports fan throughout his life. Before Wayne's senior year started, Wayne's father headed back to Texas. Wayne, however, had decided the nomadic lifestyle of an oil rigger didn't work for him. He stayed behind in Donalsonville, where he lived in a boarding house while completing his senior year of high school. Wayne served as class president his senior year and graduated from Seminole County in 1957. Following graduation, he began his undergraduate studies at Stetson University and later transferred to Florida State. He then entered the Air Force and was stationed in Homestead, Florida. After serving, Wayne worked at Jernigan's IGA for his late father-in-law, James Lonnie Jernigan.

Wayne and his young family relocated to Marietta, Georgia. Wayne's daughters recall Wayne working at Keebler, the cookie company and occasionally bringing home treats for the girls. He eventually left that job and began working at the Georgia Groceries Association, Inc., an organization of independent grocery stores, as the director. He also served as the association's lobbyist, working many years for independent grocers at the state capitol. In his later years, Wayne worked as an independent contractor. After retiring, he enjoyed playing backgammon, reading, and cooking.

As a testament to his calm demeanor and loving heart, Wayne maintained warm relationships with his former wife, Barbara Lee Jernigan Brookins, and his two former sons-in-law, Allen Dutch, and Mike Sinquefield. Family and friends will dearly miss him.

Services to Celebrate the Life of Wayne Stanford will be conducted Thursday, April 4th at 1 pm from the chapel of Thomas Funeral Home with Rev. Derron Brown officiating. The family will receive friends one hour before the service. 

You may leave the family online condolences at www.thomasfuneralhomecalhoun.com

Thomas Funeral Home has proudly been entrusted with the care of Edwin "Wayne" Stanford.