Sylvia Lea Kennedy Stafford, 75, was born on January 25, 1943, in Arkansas City, Kansas, to Bruce Eugene Kennedy and Frankie Lee (White) Kennedy-Harris. Sylvia's parents, Bruce Kennedy (1972) and Frankie L. Harris (2010) preceded her in death.

Sylvia early education foundation started in Omaha, Nebraska at Kellom Elementary where she completed 4th grade. She continued her elementary education in Kansas City at W.W. Yates, then R.T. Coles Central Junior High; graduated in 1961 from Central High School. Education was always important to Sylvia so after raising her three children she decided to attend Johnson County Community College.

Sylvia was a woman of faith. Her religious history started in Bethel AME, Omaha, NE; Friendship Baptist Church- KC; St. Stephens Baptist-KC; Beacon Light SDA; Linwood Blvd SDA Temple- KC. She faithfully served in the Choir, Finance Department, Communication Secretary, Family Life Leader and Women Ministries Leader until her health no longer permitted.

Sylvia was united in marriage to her loving husband A.L. Stafford on July 13, 1963 for 55 years. They met at St. Stephens Baptist Church in the Drum and Bugle Corp. They dated for two years, then married by John W. Williams. This union blessed them three beautiful and wonderful children. They thoroughly enjoyed each other and created a lot of wonderful memories together, not through only living everyday life and experiencing simple pleasures, but through the many trips they took with their family.

Their vacations sent them traveling throughout the United States to visit family and friends and going on an island cruise to the Bahamas.

Sylvia began her career at Menorah Medical Center in high school, Western Electric, Sears Roebuck and Company, Butler Manufacturing Company, Social Security Administration, National Weather Service, IRS, St. Joseph Medical Center, V.A. Medical Center, and retired from Federal Aviation Administration.

She leaves to cherish her memory: her husband, A.L. Stafford of the home; her son, Erik Stafford (Carla) of Kansas City, MO, two daughters, Karolann Stafford (Zac) of Kansas City, MO, and Jamie Stafford-Miller of Lenexa, KS; her grandchildren, Tyrell, Cedric II, Kayla, Karrington, Angel, and Destiny; her brother, Bryan Harris of Kansas City, MO, along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.