Wyatt Edward Staples

Wyatt Edward Staples, III was born August 1, 1952 in Roanoke, Randolph County, Alabama to the parentage of the late Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt Edward Staples, Jr. and Louise (Gates) Staples.   

Reared in a loving home by doting parents, from an early age, he learned how to be faithful in attending Sunday School and Church.  The family church was Peace and Goodwill Baptist Church where he remained a faithful member throughout life.   Some twenty-six years ago, in 1993, he was ordained a Deacon, and served with honor as a member of the Deacon Board, and Church Treasurer.  

He attended both the Randolph County Training School and Roanoke City Schools, graduating from Handley High School with the class of 1971.  This would be a historic year, because the Class of 1971 comprised  the first group of seniors who would graduate from Handley High School after a Federal Desegregation Order closed the Randolph County Training School.  Thus 1970-71 was a year fraught at times with reluctance, fear and many challenges -- yet rewards.  This group set the example for younger students who would come behind them.  Wyatt's classmates have many heart-warming memories of him as a fun-loving person with whom they frequently enjoyed moments of silliness, comedy and laughter -- but yet when it was time to be productive, he could quickly refocus his attention and show you his serious side.  All of these traits made him the wonderful person that he was.

On September 20, 1975, Wyatt married the love of his life, Miss Ella Maude Hambrick, at the home of his grandmother, the late Rosie Hill on Seymour Drive in Roanoke.  Their union was enriched by the birth of their only daughter, Karla.   Only by Divine Providence, God blessed Wyatt to live to see their 44th year of marriage, just celebrated less than a month prior to his home going.  

It could probably be said of Wyatt that he was NEVER without a job.  A shifty and industrious young man -- Deacon Staples engaged in many years of work with various industries, including William L. Bonnell Aluminum Company, Newnan, GA, Mohawk Industries, Roanoke and Sherwood Packing, Lagrange. He worked for a number of years as a forklift operator in the textile industry.  Even if -- for a moment -- he found himself not permanently employed, he would hire himself out and work with "temp services" for companies like Kimberly Clark, Lagrange, among many other places of employment.  Concluding a long history of employment, on October 31, 2017, he officially retired from a life of labor, ending 15 years of service with his last employer, the West Rock Company.

In his retirement, he derived tremendous joy watching television, reading, talking about cars, and reminiscing about school days.

He was preceded in death by both parents, Wyatt and Louise Staples.  On Tuesday evening, October 8, 2019, God sent forth a divine order, summoning him from mortal life to eternity.  He promptly -- swiftly surrendered and departed this life in peace.     

Wyatt gave many smiles to the world, and devoted many years of his life making fond and beautiful memories with his beloved wife, Ella, daughter, Karla, and the church family at Peace and Goodwill.  His memory will be forever cherished and kept alive by: his wife, Mrs. Ella Staples of Roanoke, AL; only daughter, Karla Staples of Los Angeles, CA; brother, Jerry Staples of Wedowee, AL; sister, Lois Staples Osorio of Roanoke, AL; a special niece, Brittney Hambrick; one nephew, Mario Bell (Stacy) of Atlanta, GA; a special cousin, Frankie Collier of Atlanta, GA; his church family, the Peace and Goodwill Baptist Church; and finally but not least, many beloved schoolmates and classmates from RCTS, and Handley High School.

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