Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022, at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Grenada for Mrs. Iris Louise West Stanford, 90, of Grenada, who died on Friday, Oct. 28, at her residence surrounded by her family. Burial will follow in Vance Cemetery in Calhoun County. Dr. Keith Taylor, Dr. Brent Barker, the Rev. Eugene Heimbach and the Rev. J. Barry Worrell will officiate. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. until service time on Tuesday, Nov. 1, at the church.
Iris was born on June 4, 1932, in Calhoun County, the daughter of the late Henry Jackson and Norene Nixon West. A devoted homemaker, Iris had a love for sewing anything from little girl sunsuits to wedding dresses. She also had a knack for all types of handiwork including cross stitch, embroidery and crocheting. She loved to decorate her home for each season and holiday. For all of her children, her home was the gathering place for their friends.
Iris was a dedicated member of Emmanuel Baptist Church for 70 years, 66 of which she taught Sunday school. She loved studying God’s word and preparing her Sunday school lesson each week. She also taught GAs and served on numerous committees through the years. She will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, and will be missed for many years to come.
In addition to her parents, her husband of 70 years, Thomas E. “Ed” Stanford; brothers, Tilden West and Henry West, and three nephews, James West Boland, Robert Lowry Boland Jr. and Keith Lynn West, preceded Iris in death.
Survivors include, four children, Sonja Walker of Ruston, La., Jeff Stanford (Cindy) of Madison, Lisa McCuiston (Mike) of Starkville and Caron Barham (Marty) of Mobile, Ala.; eight grandchildren, Keri Taylor (Keith) of Mobile, Ala., Bradley Walker (Katie) of Ruston, La., Hope Vancil of Madison, Meredith Betts (Ronnie Jr.) of Mantee, Blake McCuiston (Ashley) of Maben, Kylea Sanderock Miller of Grenada, Jody Sanderock of Grenada and Amy Barham of Grenada; 13 great grandchildren, Anna Taylor, Logan Taylor, William Taylor, Luke Taylor, Vivian Walker, Townes Walker, Sydney Vancil, Parker Vancil, Carson Betts, Hayden Betts, Brantley McCuiston, Emma McCuiston and Carole Miller; sisters, Lou Boland (Robert) of Columbus and Irma Boland of Calhoun City and a host of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Ronnie Betts, Jim Matos, Blake McCuiston, Jody Sanderock, Bradley Walker and Terry West. Honorary pallbearers will be Jon Mark Boland, Sam Burns, George Byrd and Marshall Harris.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Gideons International, Emmanuel Baptist Church or the charity of the donor’s choice.
The family wishes to extend sincere appreciation to Adoration Home Health & Hospice, Dr. Joseph S. Messina Jr., and Tabatha Fant, FNP, for the exceptional care provided to Iris during this time. Also to Jennifer, Sherrie and Marshall Harris for all you have done for Iris and our family.
Online condolences can be expressed to the family at www.mckibbenandguinn.com
McKibben and Guinn Funeral Service in Grenada is in charge of arrangements.
