Obituary for Christopher Forest Stafford

Christopher Forest Stafford passed away on May 2, 2024, at the early age of 36, removing one of the brightest stars from Louisiana’s musical constellation. A child prodigy and multi-instrumentalist hailed from an early age as one of the region’s most promising talents, he was revered for his mastery of traditional instruments and styles, as well as his ability to innovate and reinvent his musical heritage from within.

Stafford first gained renown for his collaborations with fellow child prodigy and lifelong friend Chris Segura, with whom he founded La Bande Feufollet, one of Cajun music’s best-known and most well-respected groups. Despite their youth, Feufollet earned an early reputation for sterling musicianship, a deep and wide command of traditional styles, as well as a tendency to push the boundaries of tradition with taste and finesse. With various incarnations of Feufollet as expressions of his creativity in Cajun music, Chris toured the world, often with his younger brother Mike on drums, made many Grammy-nominated albums, and essentially blew peoples’ minds for 25 years. He was scheduled to perform with Feufollet at the New Orleans Jazz Fest on Saturday, May 4, 2024.

In addition to Feufollet, Chris’s talents were in demand from a revolving host of bands. He performed on albums by Cedric Watson, Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Johnny Nicholas, the Daiquiri Queens, Courtney Granger, Tommy McLain, April Verch, Brass Bed, the Red Stick Ramblers, and many more. He played in a wide variety of bands well known over the years, including (to name a few) The Bucks, Racines, the Viatones, Cedric Waston et Bijou Creole, Trouble Down Teche, and with his little sister’s newly formed group, Chère Elise. Musicians from across Louisiana and beyond also turned to Chris for his gifts as a producer and studio engineer, and his Staffland Studio was celebrated as a nexus of creativity within the region’s musical community. Recently, the poetic lyrics to his song “Les jours sont longs” were included in the Anthology of Louisiana French Literature.

Beyond his incredible talents, Chris is remembered for being a kind, loving, and humble person, both on stage and off. Anyone who knew him well knew that his kindness, humility, curiosity, and intelligence were intertwined with his musical genius, from the time he was a young boy to the day he left the earth. He will be remembered for being a devoted son to his adoring mother Lisa, a loving brother to Mike and Elise, and an inspiration to the many musicians who shared stage or studio with him, not to mention the many fans and admirers his music reached across cultures and across national and international boundaries.

Chris Stafford is survived by his loving partner Kaitlyn “Kat” Elizabeth Usey, and extensive family network, including his mother, Lisa Ratliff Stafford, his sister, Mary Elise Riley, and his brother Michael Ross Stafford, and along with his sister-in-law Konner Viator Stafford, and his nephew and Godson Rex Timothy Stafford. He is also survived by his grandparents, Deanna Savoy Ratliff and Howard Chris Ratliff (Mamaw and Papaw), as well as Valerie Bordelon Stafford. Chris leaves behind his Uncle Keith Ratliff, Aunt Julie Ratliff, and their daughters, Laurie Reavis and Anna Ratliff. He is also mourned by his Aunt Kim Ratliff Pope and her sons Brennan Pope and Dillan Pope. Additionally, Chris is survived by his Aunt Pamela Ratliff, his Great-Uncle Jerry Bordelon, Great-Aunt Joey Bordelon, and his Uncle Mark Stafford, Aunt Mary Stafford, and their daughters Alexandra Stafford and Blair Stafford Alankar. Chris’s memory will live on through the cherished bonds he shared with each member of his family.

Chris was preceded in death by his father, Timothy Leslie Stafford; paternal grandfather, Thomas Lee Stafford, and his first cousin, Clayton Thomas Stafford.

The Stafford family requests that gifts in memory of Chris, in lieu of flowers, be made to a GoFundMe established in his name: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-honor-chris-staffords-memory. In addition to defraying funeral expenses, funds will go toward creating an endowment that will honor Chris’s extraordinary creative legacy.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, May 5th at 1:30 PM in Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed in Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers on Sunday, May 5, 2024 from 12:30 PM until the time of service.

The honorary pallbearers will be Brennan Pope, Dillan Pope, Chris Segura, Emile Ancelet, Chas Justus, Daniel Coolik, Philippe Billeaudeaux, and Andy Bianculli.

Personal condolences may be sent to the Stafford family at: www.delhommefuneralhome.com

A celebration of life will be held at Warehouse 535, 535 Garfield St, Lafayette, LA 70501, from 3:30 PM – 8:00 PM.