Jeffrey Wofford Stidham, a former Polk County judicial hearing officer, reporter, and editorial writer for the Tampa Tribune, has died after a battle with glioblastoma, a form of brain cancer.
He was 66.
Stidham, born and raised in Bartow, was a fifth-generation city resident. His father, Wofford, was a lauded attorney who helped establish the powerhouse law firm Holland & Knight and later opened his own practice. His mother, Betty Faye, worked as a librarian at a private company.
They were the foundation for Stidham’s desire to be deeply involved in his hometown.
After 13 years with the Tampa Tribune, Stidham’s career evolved from journalism to law when he became a hearing officer, overseeing child support enforcement in the 13th and 10th judicial circuits.
It wasn’t journalism, he’d say, ‘’But I sure do like it when they call me ‘your honor.’‘’ Then he’d laugh.
He was predeceased by his wife, Mary Ellen, and is survived by his daughter, Murphy Swiedals of Jacksonville, and many family members. He died on March 6.
Stidham’s life was defined by unwavering faith, integrity, and a deep love for his family. Known for his honesty, generosity, and warm spirit, friends said he made everyone around him feel welcome.
“The first thing you noticed about Jeff was his eyes so big and open to the world and his smile, which lit up his face with a warm glow,” said Rosemary Goudreau-O’Hara, a longtime colleague at the Tampa Tribune.
A graduate of Davidson College, the University of Texas, and Florida State University Law School, Stidham brought a rare combination of journalism and legal expertise to his work. He was widely respected for his detailed reporting on major court cases. His insightful editorials on Florida’s role in the 2000 presidential election were also noted for their depth and clarity.
Stidham and Goudreau-O’Hara co-wrote an award-winning series on emergency room wait times, improving patient conditions. “I remember Jeff’s delight, not just at winning a national award,” Goudreau-O’Hara said, “but at [making] a difference in people’s lives.”
His background in law and human compassion allowed him to find thoughtful, often innovative solutions for needy families, avoiding punitive measures whenever possible.
Stidham’s Polk County childhood was filled with adventures: playing kick-the-can with cousins and brother Jon Stidham, climbing trees to look for bird’s nests, reading adventure novels, and attending Baptist and Presbyterian churches.
He was often dispatched to mow a neighbor’s lawn, read to his grandmother, and help his mother in the kitchen. He spent time at the family lake house on Crooked Lake and the family farm in south Georgia.
Other than studying for degrees in history, law, and journalism and his early years as a journalist, Stidham lived in Bartow his whole life.
“Jeff loved making a difference,” said David Hoke, a longtime friend. “What a good service [he performed.]”
Stidham met fellow reporter Mary Ellen Murphy while working at the Tampa Tribune. After a four-year courtship, they married and settled in a historic home in Bartow. Their daughter, Susan “Murphy” Stidham, was born shortly thereafter.
Though both Mary Ellen Stidham and Murphy suffered from a rare inherited lung disease, Murphy attended school with classmates (sometimes with oxygen in tow) and has fond memories of childhood times with her parents. In Bartow, the Stidhams hosted an annual Christmas dinner, which became a sought-after invitation.
Stidham’s love for family extended beyond Bartow’s city limits. On weekends, there were often trips to the family farm near Thomasville, Ga., where Jeff would ride horses holding Murphy in the saddle, go on hay rides with friends, and spend time with the cows. If visitors were lucky, he would name a cow after them.
He also made annual trips up north so Murphy could get to know her cousins on her Mom’s side. Stidham’s enduring love for Mary Ellen was evident in everything he did, and when she died in 2008 after a prolonged illness, he devoted himself entirely to raising Murphy. The trips up north continued.
“The light of his life was Mary Ellen and Murphy,” said his brother, Jon Stidham. “They were his focus.”
His bond with his daughter was unbreakable. When Murphy needed a double-lung transplant in 2018, Stidham moved to Jacksonville without hesitation to support her through the recovery process.
The three of them, Stidham, Murphy, and her husband, Dan Swiedals, became inseparable. They traveled together and found joy in each other’s company.
In his later years, Stidham found peace in his family’s love, his quiet, fulfilling life in Bartow, and his second home on his Georgia farm, which he co-owned with his brother.
“We are lucky to be stewards of this land,” he told his daughter Murphy many times.
Stidham is survived by his daughter, Murphy Swiedals; son-in-law, Dan Swiedals; brother, Jon Stidham; sister-in-law, Joanne Stidham; and a host of nieces, nephews, northern in-laws, family, and friends.
His family takes comfort in knowing that his legacy of kindness, loyalty, and a profound commitment to the family will live on in the stories they tell and the love they share.
A service will honor his memory at St. Thomas Catholic Church Parish in Bartow, Florida. 1305 East Mann Rd., Bartow, FL 33830. On Saturday, May 10th, 2025, at 10 a.m. Followed by a party to celebrate Jeff’s life.
