Hilda Elizabeth Walls Stanfield

Hilda Elizabeth Walls Stanfield

August 27, 1945 – January 27, 2026

Hilda Elizabeth Walls Stanfield of the Nickelsville Community passed away on January 27, 2026, following a brief illness. She was a loving daughter, mother, Granny, and friend to many. She loved sharing her love of cooking, and many had her favorite recipes that they requested frequently.

Hilda was born in the Bullpen Community of Murray County, GA in her family home. She was the youngest child of 14 belonging to Marion Samuel Walls Sr and Eudora (Dora) Thompson Walls. As a child, she attended New Hope Baptist Church in Chatsworth, GA, and later in life became a member of Crane Eater Community Church in Calhoun, GA, where she helped in the nursery and was a member of the 55 club. She was a 1964 graduate of Murray County High School. She was an emeritus member of Sequoyah Chapter No 286 Order of the Eastern Star.

She met her husband, Lynn Stanfield, at a local Saddle Club dance she attended with her sister and brother-in-law. He had spotted her earlier in the day on a porch, babysitting her nephews, when he was on horseback in the wagon train cavalcade. They eloped on May 16, 1964, in Centre, AL, and stopped in Rome, GA, to eat Krystal burgers on their way home. Lynn would bring home a Krystal burger for them to share on their anniversary. After his death, her children and grandchildren continued to take Hilda to Krystal for her anniversary every year. They moved to Calhoun, GA and settled in the Damascus Community. Lynn built them a home, and there they raised their children: Hilda’s nephew, Donald Ray Walls, their daughters, Jennifer, Lucretia, and Emily. Hilda was a homemaker while her children were younger, always providing home-cooked meals for her family, sewing clothing for her girls, and loving to share her gift of cooking by feeding and caring for others. She taught her children to be servants of God and show love always. As she got older, she affectionately became known as “Granny” not only to her grandchildren, but to all her children and grandchildren’s friends.

Once her children started school, Hilda went to work for Gordon County Schools. First as a substitute teacher then working full time as a kindergarten paraprofessional at several local schools, but most of the years at Belwood Elementary. She loved running into former students and seeing them all grown up.

In addition to her parents, Hilda was preceded in death by her loving husband of 38 years, Lynn Stanfield, on January 21, 2002, and her nephew they raised as their son, Donald Ray Walls, on March 23, 2013. Siblings: Marie, Gordon, Ruth, Pauline, Mickey, Mitchell, Florence, Bertha Lucille, Janette, Janelle and Peggy Sue. Her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Larry Stanfield, Carolyn Stanfield, Karen Fauber, Terry Stanfield, Gail Brake, Robert Collins, Willene Walls, Leon Ledford, Monroe Towery, and Jimmy Davis.

She is survived by her daughters Jennifer Stanfield Holden and husband Ryan, Lucretia Stanfield Cantrell and husband Al, and Emily Stanfield. Grandchildren Felicia Walls Pressley and husband Jonathan, Natasha Walls and children Jaxson and Breanna Stansell, Meredith Holden Elakman and husband Johnathan, Clay and Starla Cantrell, Sadie Stanfield, and Will Cantrell. Great-grandchildren: John Archer, Merrin Rose, and Thomas Rook Elakman. Daughter-in-law Tina Walls, Siblings Sam Walls, Dorothy Caldwell, and husband Cotton. Sister-in-law and brother-in-law Donna Gay and husband Paul, Wayne Fauber, and Warren Brake.

She had many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins that she loved dearly, but shared special bonds with niece Margaret Chudzinski, nephew Butch Underwood, and cousin Brenda Hamilton.

Hilda’s celebration of life will be held on Sunday, February 1, 2026. Visitation will begin at 1:00 pm and continue up to the funeral hour at 4:00 pm, with Pastor Paul Gay officiating at Crane Eater Community Church, 3168 Red Bud Road, Calhoun, GA. A private family burial will follow in Crane Eater Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her nephews: Butch Underwood, Michael Quarles, Rickey Stephen Quarles, Larry Quarles, Glenn Samuel Walls, Keith Stanfield, Ernie Davis, Nathan Gay, and grandsons Clay Cantrell and Will Cantrell.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Hild's memory to Crane Eater Community Church Building Fund, 3168 Red Bud Road N.E., Calhoun, Georgia, 30701.

The Brannon family and staff are honored to serve the family of Hilda Elizabeth Walls Stanfield.