Mark Starnes

On Friday afternoon, Mr. Mark Starnes peacefully entered into the eternal rest of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Mark was born the eldest of three sons of the union of Hugh (Rip) and Wanda (Ellis) Starnes in High Point, NC. The family later moved to Waynesville, NC, where Mark accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at an early age, and was baptized as a Christian at First Baptist Church, Waynesville. He attended and graduated from Tuscola High School in 1980. Mark attended Montreat College, and in 1983 transferred to Carson-Newman University, as an active member of the Army ROTC, where he earned a BA in Sociology, and a commission as a US Army 2nd LT in 1985. Mark and his family settled in the Augusta, GA area where he furthered his education with graduate studies at Georgia Southern University after taking a position as a recreational therapist at a mental health center in Grovetown, GA. He later became a counselor with the Georgia Department of Corrections from which he retired after over 30 years of service. Additionally, Mark served faithfully in both the NC and GA Army National Guard.

Mark was a faithful Church member, most recently at Encouraging Word Baptist Church of Waynesville, and a long-time active member of the Gideons International. He was quick to share his testimony and was a prayer warrior. Mark spent many summers working with young people at Ridgecrest Baptist Boys’ Camp, and the blind at Lions camps in Hilton Head SC. With his dad, mom and brothers, Mark was active in Bill Glass prison ministry as well. He had a deep and abiding love and appreciation for veterans and their service to the country.

Mark passionately loved his family and friends. He was a faithful fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the UNC Tar Heels, the FSU Seminoles, the Carson Newman Eagles and all things ACC.

Mark is preceded in death by his father Hugh (Rip) Hackney Starnes. He is survived by his mother, Wanda Ellis Starnes of Maggie Valley, NC; his brothers, Stephen Paul Starnes (Lisa), and Christopher Daniel Starnes (Maureen) of Tallahassee, FL; daughters, Ashley Carver (Curtis) and Hannah Ward (Travis), of Augusta, GA; and grandchildren, Harper Carver and Anderson Ward and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will begin at 12:30 pm followed by a Celebration of Life service at 2:00pm at Wells Funeral Home in Waynesville, NC on March 22, 2025. Burial will follow at Pisgah View Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Encouraging Word Baptist Church or the Gideons International.

The care of Mr. Starnes has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville