Leonard resident Barbara Diane Maddox passed away peacefully on March 2, 2021. She was 79 years old.

She was the beloved wife of William of 59 years. Dear mother of Shawna (Brian) Cummings, Laurie (Clement) Buck and James Stafford. Grandmother of Danny Cummings, Kyle Cummings, Leah Stafford, Ava Stafford and Chloe Buck. Barbara is the sister of Monica (Larry) Cote and Marcia (Leonard) James.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents Susan K Maddox and Roscoe Glenn Maddox and her infant sister Roxi Ann and brother Michael.

Barbara was born February 16, 1942 in Pontiac  and moved to Leonard when she was very young. She graduated from St. Michael High School in Pontiac in 1960. She married the love of her life, William Stafford, on September 30, 1961.

In 1961 she and William moved to the towns of Leonard and Lakeville where they started their family. In 1972 they built their forever home together on the land Barbara grew up on, on Lake George Road in Leonard. There they raised their family and enjoyed times with grandchildren, family and a wealth of friends.

Barbara Stafford was a kind and gentle lady who touched the heart of anyone who met her. She loved to talk to people and always took a genuine interest in what people had to say. She loved to help people and had to make sure everyone was happy. Barbara loved to be outside either walking in the woods or working in her beautiful gardens.

She graduated from Oakland University in 1993 as a member of the golden Key National Honor Society with a Bachelor of General Studies Degree and minors in psychology and sociology. Barbara had a passion for Genealogy. She became interested in genealogy when her oldest daughter was in kindergarten and had to do a family tree for her school project. Barbara researched her own and William’s family tree which led to her desire to research and preserve even more history.

In 1976 she co-authored the Early Addison Township History– Bicentennial book. In 2000 Barbara researched, compiled and published the Addison Album, the history of Addison Township and its people. Barbara once served as president, vice president, corresponding secretary and library chairperson of the North Oakland Genealogical Society. She once served as Archivist for the Northeast Oakland Historical Society Museum in Oxford. In 1995 she started BMS Historical and Genealogy Research Consultants and BMS Publishing Company and published several books including The Bridge of Life, written by her son James W. Stafford. She was a historian for each of the Oakland County parks and she once served as secretary for the Zoning Board of Appeals and Fire Administrative Board in Addison Township and was also on the Addison Township Board of Review. She was very humble and proud of her opportunities and accomplishments.

Barbara the beloved wife, wonderful mother, loving sister, and best of friend will be dearly missed.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic there will only be a family visitation at the funeral home.

Flowers are welcomed, but the family encourages people to contribute to the foundations and pray for persons diagnosed and affected by dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.