Progressive Funeral Home respectfully announces the passing of Tamara Stansell age 42 of Columbus on January 16, 2021.

Graveside Service will be held at Green Acres Cemetery at 2 PM Tuesday January 26th.

Tamara entered this world as the only child of Valerie Gaffney on July 16, 1978 at The Medical Center in Columbus, Georgia. She had a unique gift for making an entrance in any room — whether with a huge smile, a song, joke or funny story, anyone who met Tamara was sure to never forget her. A product of the Muscogee County Schools, Tamara attended Johnson Elementary, Richards Middle, and Carver, Jordan and Hardaway High Schools. Throughout her matriculation, she made many friends and left few as strangers. She spent much of her professional life in the hospitality industry, receiving recognition and accolades for excellence in customer service.

Tamara was an avid reader of the Bible and novels. The undisputed movie queen, she often quoted phrases with energy and drama. To love her, was to have watched Shag or Beaches, and participated in an in-car sing-along at least once. Tamara was a bright light and her vibrance could not be dimed. Even during challenges and tough circumstances, she was never afraid to call on the name of Jesus.

Tamara was a devoted Mother to her three children. Her love for them was evident in how her eyes lit up when talking about them or all the ways she lavished them with affection, even sometimes to their embarrassment. She was compassionate, generous and loving to both family and friends. Tamara went home to be with the Lord while at home on Saturday, January 16, 2021.

She is survived by: her children, Tyler and Hailey Stansell, grandson, Eliziic, her mother, Valerie Gaffney Hawkins (Rodney Bryant); her father, Gregory Ware; her fiancé, Matthew Edwards and his son, Elijah; ex-husband and father of her children, Jeffrey Stansell; and a host of aunts, to include her favorite aunt, Deborah Glover, uncles, cousins to include her closest cousin, Tiffany Thomas, other relatives and friends.

Tamara is preceded in death by her son, Alex, great-grandparents, Richard and Tamie Glover, and her first cousin and best friend, Terrance Gaffney.

The Staff of Progressive Funeral Home is honored to support the family with End of Life Services.