On Saturday, March 13, 2021, Paula Camilla Bradford Stapleton, loving wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away at the age of 75. Paula was born on September 3, 1945, in Gadsden, Alabama. She graduated from the University of Alabama in 1966. On August 21, 1971, she married Eugene "Butch" Stapleton in San Angelo, Texas. They raised one son, Ben. Paula thrived in the outdoors and loved cultivating her flowers and hiking. As her granddaughters were growing up, she was never happier than when she was playing with them and would do so for hours. She was an independent thinker and an advocate for the voiceless. She was a strong Christian, serving in the church with children in Sunday School and VBS and as a mentor to many. Paula spent her professional career in service, spending the longest part of her employment in social work. She also licensed day care centers, taught a class to teenage mothers working on their GEDs, and taught at a parent's day out. A little known fact, however, is that she began her working career designing house shoes! She loved God, her family, nature and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Paula was preceded in death by her parents, Paul and Reba Bradford, and sister Susan Baker. She is survived by her husband Eugene "Butch" Stapleton of Crossville, TN; son Ben Stapleton and wife Misty Graham-Stapleton of Morristown, TN; granddaughters Khirey and Rory Stapleton of Morristown, TN; brothers Jack Bradford of Prescott, AZ; David Bradford and wife Hollie of Arab, AL; Greg Bradford and wife Linda of Arab, AL; brother-in-law David Baker of Owens Crossroads, AL; honorary grandchildren Emily and Nicholas Ernst of Knoxville, TN; and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association- alz.org.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday March 16, 2021 at 1pm at Hood Funeral Home. The family will receive friends on Monday March 15, 2021 from 6pm-8pm at the funeral home. Burial will be in Pomona Cemetery.

The family has respectfully asked that due to COVID19, that masks are worn please.