Submitted by Mary Hall
Rome News Tribune Friday, May 17, 1963
J. D. Stager Passes; Funeral Saturday
James D. (Uncle Dave) Stager, age 69, of Lindale Rte. 1, died late Thursday afternoon at his home following an illness of two years.
Born in Polk County on February 16, 1894, Mr. Stager was the son of the late William and James Savannah Hicks Stager. He was a retired Pepperell employee
and a member of the New Prospect Baptist Church, where he served on the Board of Deacons. Mr. Stager was a Justice of the Peace for many years in the Barkers
District, and was a retired member of the Justice of the Peace Association.
Surviving are his wife, the former Michael Ledford; one daughter, Mrs. Hazie Justice, of Lindate Rte. 1; five sons, W/O L. C. Stager of El Paso, Texas,
R. C. Stager, of Lindale, the Rev. Leon Stager, of Lindale, H. F. Stager, of Lindale and L. G. Stager, of Felton Rte. 1; two half-sisters, Mrs. Nora Mae
Newberry, of Gainesville, and Mrs Ola Bell Haney, of Atlanta; two half-brothers, Eddie Gossett, of Detroit, and Clayton Gossett, of Atlanta; 17
grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 4:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon in the New Bethel Methodist Church, with the Rev. Bruce Carson, the Rev. Clifford
Lemaster and the Rev. W.J. Hayes officiating. Burial will be in New Bethel Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will include J.W. Trotter, Charles Duke, Charles Clements, Gordon Haney, Clyde Trotter and Jim Mehaffey.
Serving as honorary pallbearers will be J. L. McCord, Johnny Clements, F. M. Willis, Roy Holder, Henry Moore, Fred Trotter, John Marion, H. T. Watson, W.
T. McCrary, Robert Wallace, Whitely Brandon and Clarence Reynolds.
The body will lie in state at the residence until 3:30 o'clock Saturday afternoon when it will be taken to the church to lie in state until time for the
funeral service.
Henderson-Frazier Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.