William "Stafford" Stephenson

William "Stafford" Stephenson, 78, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2026. Tess, his loving wife of 54 years, was by his side.

A standout athlete from Marion, Va., Stafford was a Hall of Fame basketball player at Emory & Henry College. His love for the game led him to a distinguished coaching career at John Battle and Pulaski High Schools, Wingate Junior College, Wake Forest University, the University of Evansville-where he helped rebuild the program following the tragic 1977 plane crash-and Southern Illinois University.

In 1985, Stafford moved to High Point, N.C., where he served the community as a State Farm agent for nearly 30 years and shared his expertise as a color commentator for High Point University basketball.

While he wore many hats, his favorite was being a "girl dad" and Papa Stafford. He is survived by his wife, Tess; daughters Megan Stockton (Will), Leslie Miller (Tyler), and Lauren Carroll; six grandchildren; and his sister, Sandra. He was preceded in death by his brother, Morris.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Museum of Chincoteague Island or the Alzheimer's Association.

A visitation will be held at 1pm on Friday, February 13, 2026, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church at 4145 Johnson St. in High Point followed by a prayer service at 1:30 p.m. The family will receive friends following in the fellowship hall.

Cumby Family Funeral Service of High Point is honored to serve the Stephenson family at this time.