Randolph County Georgia Biographies - Dr. James W. Stanford 1852 - 1922 Submitted by Charlene Parker Sep 2002 ****************************************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profitor for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. ****************************************************************************************** From "History of Bethel Association Including Centennial Meeting", by Alexander Lee Miller Dr. Stanford was born November 4, 1852 and early in life he united with the Baptist Church, entering into an active, energetic, Christian life. He married Miss Sarah Burr in 1876. To them were born seven sons who survived him. Dr. Stanford was a splendid business man and entered into the retail drug business in Cuthbert, and ran this business for several years. He was also connected with the banking business in his town. Soon after his connection with the Baptist Church he was elected Clerk of his church and held that position for eight years. In about 1888 he began to attend the Bethel Association and never missed a session of that Association from that time until his death unless he was providentially hindered. He served on every important committee of that Association during his life time. On all questions coming before that body he took an interest and was often heard from on the floor of the house. It was said of him by his pastor, Rev. J. H. Coin, at the time of his death, that "beyond any question the big thing in the life of Brother Stanford was his Master's cause. Obligations to his church had first place in his life. He believed implicitly that the doctrines as held by Baptists were the teachings of the Bible, and for them he would have willingly died. Would to God we had more like him in that particular. Dr. Stanford served his church in every capacity in which a layman can serve, and died a remarkable teacher of the Bible." He was Superintendent of the Sunday School for many years, Deacon of his church, and was violently opposed to the sale and use of intoxicating liquors. Dr. Stanford loved the Bethel Association as few will ever love it, having once said he wished it might meet quarterly. He considered an instruction from the Association or from his church an order to be obeyed implicitly. In the later years of his life he often preached at such churches as needed their pulpits to be filled, made Sunday School speeches and generally counselled and advised the churches of his Association on questions of practice and doctrine. He stands at the front as one of the great laymen leaders of this Association. His work was highly appreciated and was instructive to its membership. The only bound volume of the Minutes of the Association from the date of its organization until 1890 was bound by him as a member of the Executive Committee of the Association, at his own expense and by him was returned to the Association and was by the Association accepted and placed with him as a member of the Executive Committee for safe keeping. Had it not been for him possibly the records of our Association in its early years would have been lost. following notes added by Debra Crosby **************************************8 Georgia Death Index Name: James W. Stanford Death Date: 15 Jun 1922 Gender: County of Death: Randolph Certificate: 18706-D Age: 1920 Randolph Co. Ga Cuthbert ed 66 sheet 1 21- James W. Stanford 67 GA Ga Ga retired Sallie M. 66 Ga Ga Ga wife James W. Jr 42 Ga Ga GA son Edman? 38 Ga Ga Ga son Edith 21 french french daughter in law Douglas 14 GA GA GA gr-son