Bobbie Laird Obituary

Bobbie Jean Warriner Stanford Laird was born October 20, 1944 and passed peacefully into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Sunday, July 31, 2022. Bobbie Jean was born and raised in St. Andrews, Panama City and she thoroughly enjoyed the activities which were so abundant in the area at that time. Her grandfather, “Pops” Warriner built and operated the original Silver Circle skating rink where Bobbie Jean learned to roller skate before she learned to walk. If you happen to remember a young dark-haired girl with a ponytail turning cartwheels while skating in the 1950’s, that was Bobbie Jean in action. Swimming, fishing, boating, and scalloping were just a few of the outdoor activities she loved throughout her life. Many times she referred to the St. Andrews Bay as her childhood “playground”. She also enjoyed bowling with her family, participating for many years in leagues and tournaments.

Bobbie Jean began her career at Commercial Bank of Panama City (and later at the Lynn Haven branch) alongside coworkers who became lifelong friends. During her tenure at the bank, she met and married her husband of almost 33 years, Wallace Laird. Bobbie Jean and Wallace enjoyed many of the same outdoor activities and spent joyful times traveling and exploring.

Bobbie Jean was a very active member of the Millville Advent Christian Church and considered her church friends as an extended family. Second only to her faith, Bobbie Jean’s greatest priority was her family. Nothing made her happier than to give them all reasons to smile. As the hostess of most family gatherings, she had a special knack of anticipating others' needs and desires and doing her utmost to meet and usually exceed those expectations. Bobbie Jean delighted in the continuation of family traditions utilizing her creativity and unbounded energy for holiday get togethers providing delicious food, thoughtful handmade gifts, and perfectly themed treats and desserts. She attended many of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s ball games, dance recitals and the like, never arriving empty handed.

Bobbie Jean was a wonderful seamstress and prolific needle-worker producing multitudes of afghans, cancer beanies, dishcloths, baby blankets and so much more which she contributed to charities and crafted especially for others. Her Gator and Seminole quilts are legendary among the family!

Fearless, Warrior, Selfless, Faithful…..just a few of the words that describe an amazing woman who was loved by so many. With her inspiring personality and talent for organization, we imagine Bobbie Jean already hard at work teaching the other angels to turn cartwheels…on roller skates of course!

Bobbie Jean is preceded in death by her husband, Wallace Laird; parents, Bob Warriner and Norma Jean Welch Warriner; son, Allen Stanford; siblings, Janet Marshall and Jimmy Warriner; stepchildren, Robin Laird Bates, Stuart Laird, and Alan Laird.

She is survived by her children, Robert Stanford (Charlene), and Tina Rutherford (Steve); daughter-in-law Sandy Stanford; stepdaughter Erin Laird Sullivan; siblings, Janice Costello (Rick), Nancy Bullard (Bill), Carol Atchison (David), Gary Warriner (Cindy); grandchildren, Christopher Stanford (Kayla), Taylor Stanford (Brooke), Bradley Stanford (Nicole), Mitchell Stanford (Sarah), Ryan Stanford (Kayla), Lauren Laird Farmer (Jason), Joey Laird (Jessica). She was blessed with 13 great-grandchildren and a huge number of nieces, nephews, and cousins, along with Godfather/Uncle Dickie Warriner, Aunt Lilian Welch, and Uncle Butch Welch all of whom she loved dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, August 6, 2022 at Southerland Family Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at 11:00 a.m.prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Millville Advent Christian Church, 2220 East Third Street, Panama City, FL 32401, in memory of Bobbie Jean Laird.