Juanita Morgan Stafford

Juanita Morgan Stafford, 93, passed away peacefully in her home on May 19, 2020. She lived a wonderful and active life full of family, friends, and lots of love and laughter. She was born and raised in Texas as the eldest of four siblings. She moved to Portsmouth at age 15 where she met and married the love of her life, Robert “Pottsie” Stafford. Juanita and Pottsie were married for 65 years. They were blessed with two children: Bobbi Vogelsang (Kurt), and Morgan Stafford; three grandchildren: Mark Bernstein (Hazel), Jennifer Kolettis, and Joshua Bernstein (Annie), seven great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. In addition to raising their own children, Juanita and Pottsie fostered infants for many years. She mothered babies as young as two days old until they were adopted, sometimes for as long as 5 months. She was an expert seamstress with her own label. She had a clientele of customers who were proud to wear her custom crafted clothing. She enjoyed being a member of Deep Creek Baptist Church, Victory Chapter #16 Order of the Eastern Star, and Scottish Rite Ladies. One of her greatest professional accomplishments was leading the Portsmouth Christian Women’s Club as Chairman. During this time she gathered a warm following of lovely women who remained her lifelong friends. She traveled up and down the East Coast to share her stories and testimonies of her faith. That was her gift. Over the past 18 months she was well cared for by loving and professional staff of the Sentara Hospice community and her daughter Bobbi, who was her full-time caregiver and rarely left her side. She had a special relationship with Maryann, who saw her daily and always brought a smile to her face. She had a close group of friends who visited regularly to sit and reminisce with her, read her son’s book to her, sing to her, massage her back, and pray with her. It was always a treat for her to have a visit from her special sister-in-law, Teeny Stafford. We take comfort in knowing that she has been reunited with her parents, siblings, and beloved Pottsie. A graveside service will be held at 10 am Saturday at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends in the funeral home Friday from 2-4 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospitals.