Sarah Lee Starling

On August 5, 1935, God blessed the world with one of his angels, Sarah Clark Starling. Born to the late Essie Bell Grooms Clark and Ike Clark in Cuthbert, GA where she lived the good ole country life. At an early age, Sarah accepted Christ as her Savior and became a member of New Salem C.M.E. Church in Benevolence, Georgia. Her faith remained steadfast and unwavering throughout her life 

While in Cuthbert, she met the love of her life, Otis Starling, and the two were united in marriage on July 7, 1957. Together, they built a loving home and were blessed with two children: Opidella Starling and Otis Bernard Starling.

As one of fourteen children, Sarah knew the joy and bustle of a full house. Eight of her siblings preceded her in death: Flossie Parker, Dorothy Hines, Bessie Clark, Betty Jane Adams, John Clark, Willie Clark, Jacob Clark and Benjamin Clark. Family meant everything to Sarah, and her home was always filled with warmth, laughter, and love. She later opened her heart and home to foster children, extending her motherly care far beyond her own family.

Sarah was a proud graduate of Randolph County Training School, Class of 1955. She began her career at Griffin (1966–1971) and later earned a degree in accounting, working at Hayward Manufacturing until her retirement.

In 1965, Sarah and her family relocated to Elizabeth, New Jersey, where she joined Liberty Baptist Church. She served faithfully as a member of the Emergency Choir and later the Senior Choirs until her health no longer allowed her to sing. The family later moved to Roselle, NJ in 1966. There, the next two generations of the Starling Clan were born and raised and brought her into the next phase of her life - being Nana. Everyone ate well in that house and will take Nana's original lullaby with them until the end of time. She was a true matriarch and showed her family what a powerful God fearing woman looked like. She's the last original queen of Warren Street.

On October 1, 2025, Nana peacefully answered God’s call and drifted into eternal rest. She now rejoices in the presence of the Lord, waiting with joy to be reunited with her loved ones—A LONG TIME FROM NOW. 

Sarah leaves to cherish her memory her devoted husband Otis Starling; two loving children Opidella Starling and Otis Bernard Starling (Claudine); seven cherished grandchildren Tamika Sherrel Starling, Saiheb Starling (Latina), Shadon Starling, Nikerrah Williams, Quran Starling (Ignacio), Qasim Starling, and Samad Starling; thirteen beloved great-grandchildren Swadeya Starling, Samad Starling, Kyree Starling, Shadon Starling Jr., Amari Williams, Kamai Williams, Sa’Ron Polanco, Serenity Starling, Saabir Starling, Kyzer Thomas, Sabree Starling, Sa’Yon Starling, and Sa’Yir Starling; five surviving siblings Mary Brown (Joseph) of Patterson, NJ, Isaac Clark (Valeria) of Atlanta, GA, Homer Clark (Karen) of Virginia, and Fady Clark of Cuthbert, GA, five dear sisters-in-law Virginia Clark of Cuthbert, GA, Gloria Clark of Athens, GA, Vivian Brown of Elizabeth, NJ, Lula Burks of Cincinnati, OH, and Levonia Coleman (Ronnie) of Perth Amboy, NJ; and three godchildren Gregory Brown, George Tyrone Grooms, and Jennifer Clark Williams. And a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.