Alice Starnes

Mrs. Alice Sparks Starnes, 96, of Cajah Mountain Road, Hudson, N.C., died peacefully, surrounded by her loving family, Sunday, May 4, 2008, at Catawba County Hospice and Palliative Care.

She was born Feb. 29, 1912, in Caldwell County N.C., to the late Jordan Leander Sparks and Cora Emaline Teague Sparks. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Stover Milton Starnes; a brother, Clarence Sparks; and a sister, Daisy Canipe.

Mrs. Starnes was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Hudson, N.C. She retired from Premiere Hosiery of Morganton, N.C.

She is survived by a son, Milton Stover Starnes and wife Peggy Austin Starnes of Denver, N.C.; two daughters Mary Starnes Saunders of Hickory and Sandra Starnes Rushing and husband Reggie of Louisburg, N.C.; a sister, Thelma Branch Looper of Drexel, N.C.; eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and seven great- great-grandchildren.

A funeral service for Mrs. Starnes will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 8, 2008, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Hudson, N.C., with the Rev. John Green officiating. The burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening at Mackie-High Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial may be made to Palliative CareCenter and Hospice of Catawba Valley, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658, or Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 1787 Cajah Mountain Road, Hudson, NC 28638.

Mackie-High Funeral Home is serving the Starnes family. The obituary may be viewed online at www.mem.com.