SHORTERVILLE. . .Carolyn McPherson Starling, a resident of Shorterville, passed away Saturday afternoon, December 20, 2025, at the age of 78. She passed peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Old Zion Baptist Church with Brother Matthew Quincey officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Tuesday in the church sanctuary. Holman-Abbeville Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Old Zion Baptist Church c/o Shana Woods, 1548 County Road 119, Abbeville, AL 36310
Carolyn Starling was a woman of a quiet smile, a big heart, and a warm spirit. She faithfully served a risen Savior, Jesus Christ, and devoted her life to serving Him to the best of her ability. From her teenage years, she used her gift as a pianist to worship and serve in the church, offering her music with humility and devotion.
Carolyn took her roles as wife, homemaker, mother, and grandmother seriously, finding her greatest joy in loving her family well and serving others with quiet strength. Nothing brought her more happiness than having her family gathered around the table for a meal, playing cards, or working together on a jigsaw puzzle. Her home was always filled with laughter, and those who knew her well, also knew she had a strong stubborn streak once her mind was made up. A meticulous record keeper, she enjoyed a long and faithful career as a bookkeeper, a claims analyst with WestPoint Stevens, and a payroll clerk before retiring from the Henry County Board of Education.
Through her life, she taught her family the value of hard work, the importance of keeping commitments, and above all, the necessity of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. While our hearts are broken and a piece of us will forever be missing, we rejoice in her homegoing and take comfort in knowing she is at peace.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Joel Levi McPherson and Nannie Jo Trawick McPherson, a sister, Thelma Hawsey and a brother, William Daniel McPherson.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 59 years, John R. Starling; her daughter, Lisa Sanders (Todd); her son, John Ashley Starling (Sheila); three beautiful grandchildren, Joshua Starling (Elizabeth), Savannah Sablan (Connor), and Jessica Sanders; and her beloved great-grandson, John Thomas Starling. She is also survived by her sisters, Mabel Till and Sandra Shirley; brothers, Wayne Hall and Joel McPherson (Dell Marie); sisters-in-law, June Starling, Joyce Cline, Linda Money-Mease (Harry), and Terry Thompson (Robert); brothers-in-law, Harvey Lux and Wayne Starling (Karen); and numerous nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. Her fur babies, Prissy and Patches will miss her snuggles.
Serving as active pallbearers will be Josh Starling, Connor Sablan, Jesse Blackmon, Robert Edward “Pete” Johnson, Allen Lux, Jeff Lux, Michael Starling, Clint Money, Brian Money, Matt Culpepper, and Lee McPherson.
The family extends a special thank you to SouthernCare Hospice, sitter Tywanna McLeod, and dear friend Jesse Blackmon for the their compassionate and loving care.
.HOLMAN ABBEVILLE MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-585-5261.You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This firm does not own a crematory.
