Clippings related to Lillian Exum Clement Stafford's death

EIGHT THE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN, Buncombe County Loses One Of Its Most Noble Women in The Death of Mrs. Stafford Woman Leader Made Fine Record With the passing of Mrs. L. Exura Clement Stafford, wife of E. E. Stafford, circulation man¬ ager of The Asheville Citizen, Buncombe County, loses one of its most noble women. Though serving conspicuously her county and State in the Gen¬ eral Assembly of North • Carolnia as the State's first woman Legis- •lator, Mrs. Stafford always led a quiet and unassuming life. She was possessed of those qualities that bring success. She was a woman of bright mind and un¬ usual mental capacity. This was clearly demonstrated by her grasp of public questions and by the constructive measures she intro¬ duced in the Lower House of the State Legislature during the one regular and one special term she was a member. Her whole life was characterized by an earnest and faithful adherence to duty. She was a member of the Epis¬ copal Church and was a faithful Christian worker. Thirteen of the 17 constructive measures Mrs. Stafford introduced in the State Legislature were passed. Of this number two. de¬ serve special mention because of their State-wide importance. One measure was desighed to protect the forests of the State. It pro¬ vided that county commisioners might appropriate funds out of the county treasury for forest pro¬ tection. Buncombe County has the honor of having been the first county tc have taken advantage of this law. The initial appro¬ priation for this purpose by this county was $1,000. Now 30 coun¬ ties of the Slate are protecting their forests under this law. Another significant measure in¬ troduced by Mrs. Stafford reduced teh number of years required for divorce on the grounds of sepa¬ ration from 10 to five. While in the Legislature, Mrs. Stafford made a distinct and fa¬ vorable impression upon the mem* bers of that body. 'When news was received of her death the Legislature adjourned out of res¬ pect to her memory. The Legis¬ lature also passed a resolution of regret. As a mark or respect and appre¬ ciation of the services of the State's only woman Legislator, the speaker of the Lower House of the General Assembly of 1921 called upon her to preside at the time when the $50,000,000 bond issue for the construction of State highways was enacted into law. She also presided at the time the State's great educational program was launched. Airs. Stafford was elected to the State Legislature by possibly the largest majority ever given a candidate In this county. This is especially noteworthy when it is considered that she was elected before woman suffrage had been ratified in all of the States. Mrs. Stafford was always interested in public affairs, but she was not ac¬ tive as a suffragette. As a member of the Fanny Patton Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, Mrs. Stafford was interested and active in behalf of the veterans whp wore the gray. Mrs. Stafford was a great lover of the out-of-doors. She had a reputation as a naturalist, and frequently made long hikes into the mountains surrounding Ashe¬ ville. While employed as office depu¬ ty under Sheriffs Hunter, Wil¬ liams and Mitchell, Mrs. Staf¬ ford studied law. She also studied under James J. Britt and Robert C. Goldstein. Following her admittance to the pratice of law by the Supreme Court of North Carolina, Mrs. tSafford opened an office in this city. During the World War she served as chief clerk of the Bun. combe County Exemption Board. Mrs. Stafford was the daugh¬ ter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Clem¬ ent, members of one of Bun¬ combe County's oldest families. The death of Mrs. Stafford, ! which occured Saturday evening. I February 22, at 6:30 o’clock, was ! a distinct loss to the community. Mrs. Exum Clement Stafford, wife of E. E. Stafford, who died re¬ cently was one of the most beloved women of Asheville. She was the first woman ever to be sent to the general assembly of North Caroline and numbered her friends by the thousands.