Mr. J.D. Stanley

His Story: J.D. Stanley was born on December 18, 1930 to the union of Floyd and Almary Stanley in Greenwood, Mississippi. J.D. was the first of eleven children. As the eldest child, J.D. took great pride in caring for his parents and siblings. He sacrificed his education, departing Wilkes High School after the eighth grade to take on a job as a Plantation Tractor Operator. He expanded his skillset to become a trained carpenter, which afforded him the opportunity to assist with the construction of LeFlore County Hospital in Mississippi. J.D. was also known as a stellar athlete. He enjoyed baseball, wrestling, and was known as "The Hammer" and "Hands of Steel" in the boxing ring. In 1953, Rosa Lee Purnell caught the attention of J.D. after attending a Sunday morning church service. They were joined in holy matrimony for 65 years. To this beautiful union, four children were born. J.D. pioneered the way for his siblings to relocate north to pursue greater opportunities. He believed in walking by faith, and not by sight. J.D., Rosa, and their oldest son Otis moved to Detroit, MI in 1955. Upon the move to Detroit, the family continued to grow with the birth of Lue, Clinton and Charles. J.D. loved his family, and enjoyed imparting wisdom to them. Some of his favorite words of advice included the following: • "Walk humble, and don't stumble" (Show and have respect). • "Walk tall, don't fall" (Stand up and be a man). • "Don't worry about the mule going blind. Sit tight, and hold the line" (Have faith and maintain control of your life). In addition to being a devoted husband and father, J.D. worked as a Crane Operator at the Detroit Marine Terminal for 43 years. He was a dedicated member of the Teamsters Labor Union Local 229, which fought for the rights of thousands of hard working men and women. In his spare time, J.D. enjoyed attending auto shows and cheering on his favorite sports teams, including the Detroit Lions, Detroit Tigers, Detroit Pistons, and University of Michigan. J.D. made his transition from life here on earth to an eternal life of joy, peace, love and tranquility on Friday, September 28, 2018.

Mr. J.D. Stanley

December 18, 1930 - September 28, 2018