Curtis Stamps

LEICESTER - Curtis Anthony Stamps, 1957 – 2022.

Mr. Stamps passed away unexpectedly on October 6, 2022 at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC. Curtis was born in a small town in southern Mississippi called Prentiss on April 4, 1957, to the late Curtis and Dovie Stamps. Curtis was preceded in death by a brother Charles and his partner, James Richardson. Curtis was laid to rest next to his mother in Arm, MS on October 13, 2022.

He is survived by his children, Kelsey and Jeremy Stamps; a twin brother, Timmy; and a much beloved sister, May Harvey. He is also survived by special nieces, Kim McCloud and Tina Burks.

Mr. Stamps was a graduate of Monticello High School in Mississippi, class of 1975 and a graduate of Southern Mississippi, class of 1979. He also attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN in pursuit of his CPA degree.

Curtis was employed by several businesses across the southeast in his lifetime, retiring from PLI industries in Asheville on disability.

Mr. Stamps was a guest of the state for sixteen years. While a guest of the state, Curtis found Jesus and converted to Catholicism. He was a member of St. Eugene Catholic Church in Asheville.

With only himself, Curtis was driven to make a new life. Working two jobs a day, seven days a week, he was able to purchase a house and several cars.

However, tragedy was on the horizon. Curtis caught COVID in 2019 before we even heard about COVID. He was in the hospital for over 40 days and lost 65 pounds. COVID was not done with Curtis, as he was hospitalized again in 2020. In early 2021 Curtis retired from PLI on disability related to COVID.

On June 10, 2021, tragedy struck again. There was a house fire and his partner, James, saved his life. However, in the morning Curtis discovered James slumped over the steering wheel in the car dead.

On November 1, 2021 Curtis came into my life. He told me all about his past – I didn’t care. I told him it’s the future that counts. In the short time we were together, we talked a lot about the future. We took two trips to Mississippi to see his family and one to see mine in Florida.

Curtis made me smile, made me laugh, and brought happiness into my life. I lost my partner Ray in 2020 after more than 44 years together. Curtis and I understood what it meant to lose someone you loved. He was my little munchkin.

Curtis liked working in the yard, and yes, he and his sister did help themselves to some flowers and plants that weren’t theirs. Curtis said something like “if we get caught, ‘we’ve got friends’”. Two things Curtis would do regarding his plants was he was very  meticulous about pulling dead leaves off of them and the other was he would keep digging them up and moving them around in his yard – strange man. He also loved watching the food channel.

He was an avid New Orleans Saints fan – win or lose, he was there. As far as politics go, well I’m from Northern Minnesota, 50 miles south of the Canadian border. So he and I didn’t agree on things, but he was registered as an unaffiliated voter in North Carolina and was starting to be a little less ‘Red’.

Curtis leaves behind a lot of friends and family.

His Minnesota family included Guy, Gina and Jane Grensing; and Judd, Maggie and Lucy Kranz.

His New York family included Noelle Richardson.

His South Carolina family included Jeff Roberson and Sherry Centner.

His North Carolina family and friends included Sarah Richardson, Michael Pruitt, Jamie and Beth Teague, John Jenkins, Louise Creasman, Jan Creasman, Betty and Harry Shotwell, Charlene Hughes, Gwen Spau, Joe and Susan Wheeler, Rick Newman, Wayne Morin, Eric Fortuna, Doug Dunagan, Bryan Chappell, Nicole Davila, Mickey Cope, Chester Zima, John Gales, Jim Auner, Phillip Hugh, Sandra Morse, Shirley Allison, Peter and Kathy Oesterlin, Roxanne Kluchnik, Michael Willis, Shane and Shawn Carroll and me – Terry Rafinski.

There will be an Unveiling and Blessing of the Plaque at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at West Memorial Park, 40 Roberts Street, Weaverville, NC.  Pastor Eric Hill and Deacon Mike Zboyovski will officiate.

God Rest My Friend.