Jacqueline R. Stanley

In Loving Memory of Jacqueline R. Stanley

Some lives are just stories. Jacqueline R. Stanley, however, was a living testament—to unshakable faith in God, dedicated love, and a heart so vast it could hold a city. On June 3, 2025, Jacqueline gracefully slipped away, enveloped by the love that defined her life. She brought immense joy, warmth, and inspiring love to her family and friends, and her priceless memory will forever be a rare beacon. Here is her untold love story.

Born in Elgin, Illinois, on July 21, 1954, to Mosezella Joy and Grady Hemphill. She attended Elgin High School. Jacqueline eventually made her way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in the late 1970s—a divine move that would define the rest of her life. From rummage sales on warm summer mornings to the pride of manicured lawns and tight-knit neighborhoods, Milwaukee wasn’t just where she lived—it was her heart’s home. She loved her city passionately and served it faithfully.

In 1972, unknowingly, Jacqueline met the man who would become the center of her love story—Claude Stanley. Though life took them on separate paths for a while, God saw fit to bring their ignited hearts back together in 1978 at Milwaukee Area Technical College. She was studying to become an X-ray technician; he was pursuing electrical engineering after his time in the US Navy. On October 28, 1978, at three o’clock in the afternoon, Jacqueline and her beloved Claude Stanley exchanged their consecrated wedding vows, a promise of love witnessed by devoted family and friends. Their union was a beautiful testament to an unexpected rekindling of love that blossomed and stood the test of time for many decades. That blessed reunion sparked a love that would last the rest of her days. Together, they built a life filled with dancing, laughing, devotion, faith, and even a shared passion for real estate—she was a real estate agent, he was a home inspector.

Their union was not just romantic—it was a driven mission, a ministry grounded in laughter and sustained by constant prayer. Their marriage endured all things—sickness, hardship, seasons of joy and testing, for better or for worse—because it was profoundly rooted in something higher than themselves. Their love was steadfast and remarkable. Jacqueline was also a proud and devoted mother to six children: Nicole R. AllmondJoy, Keith K. Stanley, Claude O. Stanley, Klaudale L. Stanley, and Omega R. Stanley. Including her oldest treasured son, Kevin K. Joy who preceded her in death.

But her motherhood did not stop there—her infinite love extended outward to 32 godchildren, each one adored and prayed over with a mother’s unrestricted heart. Among them were Adrienne Boyd, Andre Boyd, Germaine Boyd, Takesha Johnson, and Kisha Matthews, who knew the warmth of her guidance and the strength of her belief in them. She poured herself equally into her delightful role as – Grandmother, finding boundless joy in her precious grandchildren: Kevin K. Joy II, Dasia R. Stanley, Rome A. Allmond, Kyaire J. Cobb, and Tristian Pullins. They were her pride and delight, and she loved them with the same sincerity that defined every part of her life.

Jacqueline was truly a Proverbs 31 kind of woman—a virtuous woman who wrote her own sacred chapter through the way she lived. A prayer warrior and intercessor, she carried the pain of others as if it were her own and brought comfort wherever she went; whether it was at a hospital or in her front yard. She was a woman who fed the hungry, clothed the naked,  ministered to broken hearts, and wrapped the wounded in consistent prayer. She motivated others to smile more, to forgive others, to love harder, and to always, always lean on God’s unchanging hand.

She was the beloved baby sister in every sense—by blood, by faith, and by spirit. To her siblings, she brought joy, playfulness, and a steadfast love that endured through every season of life. She shared a special bond with each of them, whether still here or now at rest in glory.

She is survived by her cherished siblings: Alvin Hemphill, Hayes Hemphill, Nancy A. Cobb, Paul L. Joy, and her dear “twin”, Vernon N. Joy. She is also preceded in death by her siblings who welcomed her into eternity: Mary E. Horshaw Randolph, Shirley M. Joy-Stanley, Michael T. Joy, and Betty Hemphill Taylor. She was preceded in death by her parents; an adored niece, Michelle D. Randolph; nephews: Eric Randolph, Deron Hemphill and Tyrone N. Williams, and a brother-in-law, Joseph Randolph. Their shared memories, laughter, and unbreakable connection will live on in the hearts of all who knew them.

Jacqueline’s passing is a tremendous loss, but her legacy of unwavering love is eternal. She leaves behind her husband – the love of her life and cherished partner of 47 years – Claude, her children and their spouses, grandchildren and their spouses, godchildren and their spouses, siblings and their spouses, nieces and nephews, neighbors and a citywide community—from Sherman Park to City Hall—transformed by her dedicated love, compassion, wisdom, humor, selflessness, and impactful leadership. In the city, she embraced and helped uplift—the city that will now carry her honorable memory in its streets, its homes, and its hearts. Jacqueline R. Stanley loved passionately. She prayed boldly. She served people wholeheartedly and she lived fully.

Her remarkable love story is far from over—it lives on in every life she touched, every soul she comforted, and every heart she helped heal.

Visitation will be held on:
Friday, June 20, 2025, 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Ebenezer Church of God In Christ
3132 N Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

A praise celebration will be held on:
Friday, June 20, 2025, 10:00 AM
Ebenezer Church of God In Christ
3132 N Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53212

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