Jewel Starkey

Jewel Starkey, 94, of Iuka, Mississippi, went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 25, 2014, at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Iuka. She was the oldest living member of Spring Hill United Methodist Church at the time of her passing. She was born in Tishomingo County on August 17, 1919 to Madison O. Franks and his wife, Ollie Mae Franks. She married Charles Dee Starkey, Sr. on January 29, 1939. During WWII she worked at Firestone Tire and Rubber in Memphis to support the war effort. Her children, Charles Dee Starkey, Jr. was born June 2, 1944 and Tommy Carl Starkey was born January 5, 1946. In 1950, the bool weevils ate their cotton crop for the second year in a row, causing them to move to Memphis in order to get a job and not lose their home. Jewel worked at Goldsmith Department Store and was recognized by Mr. Fred Goldsmith for having the largest single sale of ladies jewelry in Goldsmith’s history. In the late 1950’s, she taught her two sons how to drive, letting one sit on her lap steering the car on the way to Sunday School and letting the other steer home from church. In 1967, they retired and returned to Midway, and she started again attending Spring Hill United Methodist Church where she remained a member since joining at the age of 21. She loved Spring Hill and the Midway Community. At a homecoming a few years ago, a member of Spring Hill stated that the first time he was in a church was when Mrs. Starkey was babysitting him and she took him to church with her. Another time, a lady stated what children Jewel had been babysitting said “Whatever I amount to, I owe to Mrs. Starkey.” A distant cousin stated Saturday upon hearing of Jewel’s death, “If there is anyone in Heaven, its Mrs. Jewel. Upon seeing Jesus, I suspect He could have said, “Well done, My Good and Faithful and Servant.”  Visitation is scheduled for 6 until 8 PM on Tuesday, April 29 at Spring Hill United Methodist Church.  Funeral services are scheduled for 1 PM on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at Spring Hill United Methodist Church, officiated by Rev. Dale Hathorne.  Interment will follow in Spring Hill Cemetery. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with arrangements.  Survivors include 2 sons – Charles D. Starkey, Jr. (Elizabeth) of Red Banks, MS and Tommy Carl Starkey (Joye) of Nesbit, MS; one granddaughter, three grandsons, four great granddaughters, and one great grandson.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles D. Starkey, Sr.; her parents, Madison O. and Ollie Franks; two brothers – Bill and Bud Franks; and her sister, Mildred “Milly” Wagner.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Spring Hill Cemetery Fund.