Jeannette Norman Starnes

Mrs. Jeannette Norman Starnes passed away Friday, October 24, 2025, at her home in Great Falls, SC. Graveside services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at Oaklawn Cemetery, 355 North Garden Street, Winnsboro, SC 29180. A reception for family and friends will follow the service.
Mrs. Starnes was born February 3, 1929. She was the daughter of the late Charlie and Hydesgia Norman. Jeannette was a retired high school teacher, businesswoman, and homemaker for many years. She was predeceased by her husband, Henry Clayton Starnes, Jr. "Speedy" of over 61 years.
She was a graduate of Mt. Zion Institute in Winnsboro, SC and Winthrop College. She taught high school biology and chemistry in Columbia, Marion and in Great Falls. She was a Beta Club sponsor and took many trips with her students.
Jeannette was introduced to her husband "Speedy" by a mutual friend from Marion, SC. They were married in 1960 and after a honeymoon trip to New York City in December, they made their home in Great Falls.
She was a long-time member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Great Falls where she was active in the Altar Guild and made sure the church was spotless for all services. Jeannette served in several Diocesan wide volunteer positions for the Episcopal Church Women of the Upper Diocese of South Carolina. She was chair of the Altar Guild, Christian Social Relations, and the Bena Dial Scholarship Fund. She would sew altar linens, and those linens can be found at York Place, Finlay House and Still Hopes. At the 87th Convention of the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina Convention in 2009, she received a Resolution of Appreciation for her service and dedication providing extraordinary Altar Guild services to Episcopal congregations in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina. Jeannette was named the Distinguished Woman for the Triennium 2012 to 2015 of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina. Jeannette was also known as the "Strawberry Lady". She and the members of St. Peter's sold strawberry short cakes at the "Flopeye" Fish Festival for many years. She planted pansies and other flowers in the flower barrels around Great Falls and was instrumental in getting the War Memorial Building renovated.
She was deeply concerned about the underprivileged in Great Falls and helped to provide clothing, food and support to individuals through her work with GRASP.
To her family she is known as "Sitie". This is the Arabic term for "grandmother". Grandmothers are the most loved members of their family. They not only are great cooks, but they provide care and guidance to their families and to their communities.
She is survived by her children, Cindy (Eric) Davis and Hank (Tammy) Starnes and two grandchildren, Clayton Starnes and Elizabeth Davis. She is also survived by two nephews, George Kemp, Berea, Kentucky and Lee (Melissa) Kemp of Lexington, Kentucky,three great nephews, Stephen Kemp, Parker Kemp and Hudson Kemp and four great, great nephews. The family would like to extend a special thank-you to her caregivers Pat, Janet, Bernice, and Debra for taking great care of our mother and Providence Hospice Care.
In addition to her parents and husband, she is predeceased by three sisters, Hamdy N. Kemp, Nora Norman and Jerri N. Long.
In lieu of flowers, memorials made be made to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, PO Box 521, Great Falls, SC 29055; GRASP, PO Box 424 Great Falls, SC 29055; or Greenlawn Cemetery, PO Box 191, Great Falls, SC 29055.
Pope Funeral Home is assisting the Starnes family.
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