CAMBRIDGE - Elaine Flossie Sampson Stafford departed this life on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016, at University of Maryland Shore Medical Center at Dorchester. Elaine was born Sept. 18, 1932 in Cambridge and was the eldest daughter of the late John West Sampson, Sr. and Tressie Irene Slacum Sampson. Elaine was a graduate of F.D. St. Clair High School Class of 1951. She worked at J M Clayton's Seafood before leaving to work at Rob Roy, a local manufacturer of children's clothing, where she worked for more than two decades. Following her employment at Rob Roy, she worked briefly at Airpax Electronics, and later for the Housing Authority of Cambridge in payroll until her retirement. Elaine married John Dorsey Adams on Apr. 21, 1956 and on Oct. 28, 1960, she gave birth to one daughter, Irene Elaine Adams. Dedicated to justice and equality, Elaine was very active in the Civil Rights Movement working to improve economic opportunities for minorities in Cambridge, Maryland. She was a member of the Executive Board of the Cambridge Non-Violent Action Committee and became the first African American person appointed to the Cambridge Human Relations Committee and continued to remain active in the community for many years. On Aug. 28, 1963, Elaine along with more than 200,000 Americans gathered in Washington, D.C., to attend The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The March on Washington, was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history and demanded civil and economic rights for African Americans. Continuing her fight for equality, Elaine worked along side Gloria Richardson Dandridge, The Rev. Lemuel Chester, Emerson Stafford, and many other local Civil Rights Leaders who were instrumental in bringing affordable housing for low income residents to the City of Cambridge in 1969. She was appointed by the Mayor of Cambridge to the Executive Board of Directors for Calvin Mowbray Park. Later on she was elected as President of the Resident's Council of Calvin Mowbray and Stephen Camper Park Housing Developments and continued to serve for many years. Elaine worked with Sylvia Jones and the Residents Council to launch the Summer Youth Program for children ages 7 to 12 years to empower the youth with continuing their education over the summer to prepare them for the upcoming school year. Upon completing the program each summer, a graduation ceremony was held for the children. On Mar. 23, 1981, Elaine was united in marriage to Emerson Lincoln Stafford to whom she was married for 18 years until his death in 1999. On Jan. 16, 2006, Elaine was recognized by the Dorchester NAACP for lifetime community achievement at the 18th annual Martin Luther King Prayer Breakfast in Cambridge. Elaine enjoyed spending time with her family, neighbors, and friends and was always available to lend a helping hand when needed. She was preceded in death by her husband, Emerson Stafford; Father and Mother, John West Sampson, Sr. and Tressie Sampson; one sister, Ella Mae Cornish; 12 brothers, Leon, Alexander, Willie, Nathaniel, John West, Jr., William Arvalee, Garfield, Joe Louis, Andrew, Frank, Calvin, and Ronald. She is survived by her daughters, Irene Adams-Evans (Michael) Owings Mills, and Enez Stafford Grubb, of Cambridge; three grandchildren, Roberta Grubb, Baltimore, Lamont Goodson (Lisa) Waldorf, and Ronae Elsey of Cambridge; one sister, Barbara Cummings of Cambridge; five sister-in-laws, Pensacola Sampson, Roberta Sampson, and Diane Sampson of Cambridge, Geneva Wongus, East New Market, and Betty Sampson, Havre De Grace; a host of great-grand children, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Services will be held on Friday, Nov. 4, 2016 11 a.m. at Waugh Chapel UM Church 425 Cambridge, with a viewing Thursday evening 6-8 p.m. at Henry Funeral Home PA 510 Washington St Cambridge and one hour prior to service on Friday. Interment Veterans Cemetery Hurlock. Condolences sent to www.henryfuneralhomepa.com