Wilda Mae Stafford Kuykendall
Wilda Mae Stafford Kuykendall, 86, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, in the Memory Unit of Riverwood Retirement Community in Rome, Ga.
Mrs. Kuykendall was born in Apison, on Feb. 15, 1930 to the late Isiac S. Stafford and Vixie Kiddo Smith Stafford. Also preceding her in death were her sisters, Mary Ruth Davis and Tot Lowry.
Mrs. Kuykendall grew up in Apison, raised her family in Cleveland and moved later in life to Chattanooga. She was a woman of simple pleasures--her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her life and legacy. Outside the home, she worked at Hardwick Woolen Mills, Miller Real Estate and McKee Baking Company. She enjoyed reading, sewing, traveling, shopping and flower gardening.
Mrs. Kuykendall is survived by her husband, Edsel Henry Kuykendall, to whom she was married on July 5, 1945. Other survivors include a daughter, Mary Sexton of Rome, GA, two sons, Gerald (Dalphna) Kuykendall and Jerome (Sonya) Kuykendall, all of Cleveland, Tennessee and a brother Kenneth (Linda) Stafford also of Cleveland. Surviving grandchildren include Melissa Kuykendall Porter of Chattanooga; Alex (Tina) Kuykendall, of Riceville; Dawn Hooper of Appalachia, VA; Denise (John) O’Daniel, Douglas Kuykendall, Jeremy (Tina) Kuykendall, Misti (David) Michaels, Greg Hayes, and Brent Miolen, all of Cleveland. Several great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren survive as well.
Services for Mrs. Kuykendall will be held on Friday, May 20, at 1 p.m. in the East Brainerd Chapel with Reverend Doyle McCracken officiating. Interment will follow at Lakewood Memory Gardens, East. The family will receive friends at Chattanooga Funeral Home on East Brainerd Road on Thursday, May 19, from 5-8 p.m.
Pallbearers include Alex Kuykendall, Douglas Kuykendall, David Michaels, John O’Daniel, Tanner Ramsey and Michael Vining.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (please note for Team Riverwood), 922 East Morris Street, Dalton, GA 30721 or Homestead Hospice, 1 North Tennessee Street, Cartersville, GA 30120.
Arrangements are by the East Brainerd Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 8214 East Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.ChattanoogaEastBrainerdChapel.com.