ASHFORD. . .Jean Penuel Starling, a resident of Ashford, passed away Tuesday morning, September 22, 2026, at her home. She was 99.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Thursday, September 24, 2026, in the Cowarts Baptist Church with Chaplain Daulton Keel officiating. The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 P.M. Thursday in the church sanctuary. Burial will follow in the Cowarts Baptist Church Cemetery. Holman-Headland Mortuary & Cremations is in charge of arrangements.
Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the Cowarts Baptist Church, 2819 Jordan Avenue, Cowarts, AL 36321.
Mrs. Starling was born and raised in Henry County, daughter of the late Thomas Marvin Penuel and Dewey Mae Hodges Penuel. She formerly lived in Wewahitchka, Florida, Dothan and Abbeville before moving to Houston County, near Ashford, in 1990. Mrs. Starling was the oldest living member of Cowarts Baptist Church where she was also a member of the Irma Ready Sunday School Class. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie V. Starling, and four sisters, Blondell Owens, Louise Eubanks, Mary Moring and Lynette Forehand, a son-in-law, James E. “Jimmy” Dickens, and great-great-grandchildren, Griffin Allen Watson, Braighley Nicole Harper and Kimberlyn Nicole Day.
Surviving relatives include her daughters, Diane Jinks (Morris), Dothan; Sharon Smith (James), Ashford; and Vicki Jackson (Bert), Columbia; a son, Bruce Starling (Lisa), Abbeville; grandchildren, Tammy Allen (Buddy), Chad Jinks (Heather), Keenan Jinks, Jennifer Harper (Michael), Tracy Watson (Mark), Kaci Baker (Jeff), Dustin Jackson (Whitney), Blake Brannon (Kimberly), Benjamin Day (Tonya), Bryant Day and Cody Odom; numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Linda Jordan.
Serving as active pallbearers will be the great-grandsons.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Ashley, Heather and Sonya of Dayspring Hospice and especially caregiver, Emily Smith, for the loving care and kindness shown to Mrs. Starling during her illness.
HOLMAN-HEADLAND MORTUARY & CREMATIONS IS IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS. Phone 334-693-3371. You may sign a guest register at www.holmanmortuaries.com. This establishment does not own a crematory.
