James Wilford Stinson

James Wilford Stinson, a resident of Dothan, passed away on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007, in the Southeast Alabama Medical Center surrounded by his loving wife, Victoria, his five children and other family members. He was 87. Funeral services will be Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, at 2 p.m. at Byrd Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Mike Grimes officiating. Burial with military rites will follow in Gardens of Memory with Byrd Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 12 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday, prior to services. Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be sent to Grandview Baptist Church Building Fund, 1940-2 S. Oates St., Dothan, Ala., 36301. Mr. Stinson was born Sept. 30, 1919, near Abbeville, Ala., and moved to Dothan at the age of 19. He had distinguished military service in the U.S. Army during World War II and retired from civil service at Fort Rucker. Mr. Stinsons life revolved around old fashioned values and his family. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. Mr. Stinson was a member of Grandview Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife of 58 years, Victoria Stinson, Dothan; three daughters, Jean Smith and her husband, Ray, of Valrico, Fla., Jane Fillingim, and her husband, Earl, of Panama City, Fla., and Janice Berry of Dothan; two sons, James E. Stinson, and his wife, Kathy, of Pensacola, and John O. Stinson, and his wife, Kirstin, of Gainesville, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Derek Smith, Jarrod Smith, Laura Baker, Christopher Fillingim, Amanda McBride, Dustin Berry, Harrison Stinson and Nicolas Stinson; 10 great-grandchildren, Stormy Smith, Jacob Smith, Joshua Delgado, Mariah Baker, Colby Baker, Garrison Baker, Garrett McBride, Bailey McBride, Peyton McBride and Royce Berry; a brother, Charles Earl Stinson, and his wife, Micki, of Summerfield, Fla.; two brothers-in-law, J.L. Moreland of Arkansas and Neal Owens of Abbeville; two sisters-in-law, Margaret Trawick of Headland and June McDonald of Cowarts; several nieces and nephews. Mr. Stinsons grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Stinson family would like to express their gratitude for the many acts of kindness and care shown during Mr. Stinsons illness, especially to the nurses and staff of the Critical Care Unit of Southeast Alabama Medical Center, Dr. John Burgess and First Choice Hospice. Byrd Funeral Home, (334) 793-3003, is in charge of arrangements.