Martha Lee Starnes

Martha Lee Harris Starnes passed away peacefully on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 at the age of 93 in Tyler, Texas. Her family will lay her to rest with a graveside service at Rose Hill Cemetery in Tyler on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, at 2:00 p.m.

Martha was born February 20, 1930, in Sweetwater, Texas. She was baptized into the faith on May 1, 1940, at Lamar Street Baptist Church in Sweetwater. In 1951 she married Bud Starnes and together they built a life that they loved. Martha was a devoted homemaker, taking seriously her vocation as wife and mother, keeper of the home and first teacher of her children. Martha and Bud lived in many different cities and states on this continent and others before making Tyler, Texas their permanent home in 1980.

A devout Christian, Martha was always ready to give reason for her faith and encourage others to know her Savior. In her later years, her Bible remained at the head-end of her dining room table where she sat every morning to study its words and hear God’s voice. To Martha, a person’s date of salvation was just as important as his or her date of physical birth. She was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler where she enjoyed being an active part of the Gloryland Singers for many years. Her wit, determination and constant prayer-life will be remembered with fondness by all who loved her.

Martha is preceded in death by her loving husband of 30 years, Howard Dean “Bud” Starnes; her parents, Floyd Lee Harris and Margaret Ann Walker Harris; stepfather, Paul Thomas; brother, Roy Harris and sister, Christine Harris Wilson; grandson Samuel Dean Starnes and nephew Randy Wilson.

Left to cherish her memory are her two sons, Kennith Starnes (Jan) of Bossier City, Louisiana and Floyd Starnes (Penny) of Tyler, Texas; her daughter, Julia Starnes of Tyler, Texas; two grandchildren, Lori Starnes Mainiero (Dominic) of Shreveport, Louisiana and Lee Starnes (Huong Le) of Atascocita, Texas; three great-grandchildren, Aaron and Victoria Mainiero, both of Shreveport, Louisiana, and Willow Le-Fiona Starnes of Atascocita, Texas; beloved nieces Kathy Hayden (Jon) of Tyler, Texas and Suzy Duncan (Joel) of Urbandale, Iowa; as well as her extended family and friends.

The family would like to express their sincerest appreciation to the staff and caregivers at Brookdale Tyler South, and to Lloyd James Funeral Home for their dedicated and compassionate assistance in our times of need.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.lloydjamesfuneralhome.com for the Starnes family.