Veronica Stanford

August 22, 1951 - February 12, 2020

Veronica was the fifth child born from the union of Franklin Joseph Sr. and Bernice Joseph. She was raised in St. Louis with her other siblings and grew up in the St. Louis city schools. She attended Beaumont and Central High Schools and received her General Education Certificate in 1980 from Forest Park Community College. Affectionately nicknamed “Peewee” due to her small stature, she had a beautiful smile and a loving spirit. She had many, many friends and maintained those friendships, some for over 40 years. She was loved by everyone who knew her. Veronica met and married Merle J. Stanford IV on June 8, 1970. From their union, they had two children, Tamara and Merle, Jr.(V). Veronica and Merle raised their children in Vinita Park, Missouri. Being a wife and mother brought her joy. Some of her hobbies were watching her beloved soap operas, playing cards and watching action movies. After many years of living in St. Louis County, the family moved to Southern California in May 1989 and migrated to Pomona. In 1992, her first grandchild, Destiny, was born. Following Destiny were two grandsons’, Derrien and Jordan, born from Merle and his wife Sonya. She was crazy about her three grandchildren. As an empty-nester and after spending 23 years in Pomona, she decided to move to Kansas City, Missouri in August 2010 to be near her big brother, Stanley. After Stanley’s death in 2017, she decided to move to St. Louis to be closer to her remaining family. Veronica joined Greater Union Missionary Baptist Church in 2019 under the Leadership of Senior Pastor R James Glasco. She was beloved by her new church family. She enjoyed attending church and was always a helping hand. Veronica was preceded in death by her mother, father, grandmother and all her siblings. She leaves behind her two beloved children, Tamara, Merle, daughter-in-law Sonya, three grandchildren, 17 nieces and nephews and a host of great-nieces and nephews.