Mary M. Starks

Mrs. Mary M. Starks departed her earthly home on Tuesday, August 30, 2022. Viewing will be from 12 Noon until 2 PM Saturday, September 3, 2022, at Adkins-Drain Funeral Service. The funeral will follow at 3PM in the Chapel at Greenlawn Memorial Park.
Mary Malisia Starks was born on January 7, 1931. She was the oldest of five children born to John and Lena Williams in Warren County, North Carolina. Mary graduated from John R. Hawkins High School in 1948. After graduating, Mary relocated to New York City and worked as a Phone Operator for the telephone company.
While in New York, Mary was introduced to a U. S. Army solider named, Charlie Miller Starks, who was on furlough. After a brief courtship, the two married on June 8, 1957. As a Military Wife, Mary traveled with her family throughout the United States and Europe including Spain, Germany, Texas, Missouri, New York and eventually retiring in Illinois where they made Waukegan their home for over twenty years. To their union, Mary and Charlie had four daughters, Maxine, Karen, Michelle and Deborah, each born on different military instillations. Once established on new base, Mary would get involved in the local Girls Scouts Troop and the Non-Commission Officers Wives organization.
In Waukegan, Mary and her family attended Shiloh Missionary Baptist church, where she served faithfully on the Usher Board and lent her talents to creating floral decorations for church events and making a pulpit cover for communion services. Both Mary and Charlie were avid bowlers and bowled on the Shiloh Bowling league for years.
Mary was a stay-at-home mom and returned back to work only after her daughters were school-age, she worked for the United States Army on the Fort Sheridan Military Base where she was a Phone Operator and a Transportation / Relocation Specialist. In 1993, Mary's job transferred her to Camp LeJeune Marine Corp Base in Jacksonville, NC and for the first time in their marriage, Charlie followed Mary to her government assignment.
In addition to working for the military, Mary was also the wife of a minister assigned to different churches. Mary was the consummate First Lady and availed herself to the members of the historic First Baptist Church of Lake Forest in Illinois, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church of Wilmington, NC and Christian Chapel #2 in Hampstead, NC.
Mary is proceeded in death by her parents, a brother, Jessie Williams; her sisters, Maxine Ricci and Pearl Jasper; her oldest daughter, Maxine Bailey and one granddaughter, Olivia Bailey. Mary leaves to cherish her memories her devoted husband of 65 years, Charlie Miller Starks; three daughters, Karen Starks of Barrington, IL; Michelle Starks of Wilmington, NC and Deborah Starks of Forest Park, IL. She was the grandmother of four granddaughters Kenisha Bailey, Jeveny Starks, Deborah (Daveion) Bradley, Aliyah Starks and one grandson, Charles Starks. Within the last ten years she was blessed to be the great-grandmother of Kenya Dent, Dalilah Bradley and Tyson London. Memories are also cherished by her youngest brother, Paul Williams; first cousin, Carrie Cheek and a host of friends, family and church members.
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