Sherry Exum Starley

On May 14, 2025, Sherry Exum Starley, passed from this world following weeks of compounding health challenges. Today, she is more alive than ever in the presence of Jesus!
Sherry was born October 13, 1956, in Columbus, GA to the late Thomas Tillman Exum Jr. and Sarah Valrea Exum. She was introduced to Jesus during her childhood, beginning a journey that would build a life marked by faith, hope, and love. Four brothers, Thomas Tillman Exum III, Malcolm Douglas Exum, Gregory David Exum, and Daniel Michael Exum, precede her in death. She is survived by her brother James Fletcher Exum, sister Donna Exum Boozer (David), and her sister-in law Sandra Exum (widow of Thomas). Throughout her life she also found inspiration and strength from her late grandmother and step-grandfather, Frances and Willie (Mr. Bill) Etheridge. She often referred to them as the brightest lights of her earliest years.
Seeing it as her best option for something better, Sherry left home on her eighteenth birthday to begin a new life. She finished high school at night and worked in various fast-food restaurants before starting a career in banking. It was in this season of her life that she met Michael (Mike) Eugene Goode, who she would marry in 1978. Mike's parents (Gene and Jackie Goode) offered Sherry a new sense of stability and care. They also introduced her to Wynnton Methodist Church (Columbus, GA) where her faith continued to be nurtured and developed. This church, along with the Goode family itself, offered another glimpse of God's love for Sherry during an especially vulnerable and defining season of her life.
Mike and Sherry welcomed two children together. Michael Adam Goode was born in 1980 and Jonathan Wesley Goode was born in 1986. In 1991 they moved from Columbus, GA to Fayetteville, NC before settling in Dublin, GA in 1994. A few years after this, Mike and Sherry's marriage ended in divorce. But Sherry's hope for a better tomorrow did not die in this season. She joined a divorce recovery group at Pine Forest Methodist Church (Dublin, GA) and did everything she could to care for her boys during this most difficult season of their lives. Her persistent hope and grace, as well as Mike's willingness to keep at it, led to a post-divorce peace that most could only dream about. Sherry and Mike remained friends and still enjoyed holidays and grandchildren together until her time in this world concluded. Michael, Jonathan, their wives, and their children are the benefactor of this today.
In 1999, Sherry met and married the late William Harrell (Bill) Starley, Jr. Their relationship offered Sherry a new level of peace, security, and love by one of the best men you could ever meet. God was continuing to build Sherry's faith and expand her vision for His provision in her life. Sherry loved being Bill's "Sweetie Pie" and she also loved the extended family that came along with that gift. She deeply admired and respected her mother-in-law Carolyn Starley, her two sisters-in-law, Cindy (James) Bazemore, Janet (late husband Kent) Proctor, and her brother-in-law Jimmy (Laurie) Starley. Her father-in-law William Harrell (Frog) Starley, Sr. passed before she met Bill. But being in his family was pure joy to Sherry and she knew it gave her children and grandchildren an incredible picture of what an extended family could and should be. The Starley legacy forever changed Sherry's.
Sherry concluded her work in the banking industry in the early 2010s and became a preschool teacher at First Methodist Church Preschool (Dublin, GA). She really enjoyed this season of getting to care for children. Sherry has a natural propensity toward loving children with special needs and challenges and this job gave her a chance to do just that. Her empathy and presence for these children was a calming gift to them and a powerful, yet humble, sight to behold.
Sherry celebrated the marriages of both of her sons in 2012. Michael married the former Jennifer Gundy, while Jonathan married the former Ashley Hester. Sherry loved her daughters-in-law deeply and often said that her boys married the exact right mates for them. The relationships Sherry enjoyed with Jennifer and Ashley were both dream scenarios for any mother-in-law/daughter-in law relationship. In many ways Jennifer and Ashley became like pure daughters to her.
Bill and Sherry joined a small group at Dudley Baptist Church (Dudley, GA) around the same time that Michael and Jonathan were married. This group helped them deepen their walk with Jesus and taught them how to be a part of a true family of faith. This was also around the time Sherry became a grandmother. Sherry welcomed Maxton Michael Goode in 2016, Charles Walker Goode in 2017, George Wesley Goode in 2019, and Charlotte Anne Goode in 2023. Her grandchildren were the source of her greatest pride and joy in this life. She was deeply involved and engaged in their lives – both in her actions and through her prayers. She gave them fun, presence, love, and she passed on to them the hope that they all can find in Jesus. Her life in this season was a true picture of one generation commending the hope of Jesus to another.
Bill and Sherry moved to Ellijay, GA in 2017 after each of their retirements. They quickly became "partners" at The Orchard Church (Ellijay, GA) and fully gave themselves to this community of faith. They were enjoying retirement and all the friends they were making through The Orchard Church when Bill passed away of a sudden heart attack in October 2021. Even during the greatest grief in her life, Sherry kept moving forward with hope and purpose when she began helping other widowed women experiencing their own grief. Sherry remained busy after Bill's death through The Orchard Church. She served food to the less fortunate, cared for kids on Sundays, organized volunteers for VBS, served at Celebrate Recovery, counted donations every single week, and so much more! She was especially thankful to be a part of her Life Group and the people who participated in that group over the years.
In the last few weeks of her life, all Sherry wanted to do was get back to her church. In the most wonderful way, The Orchard Church was to her the Body of Christ on display. "I never knew how many people loved me," Sherry remarked when talking about the care her church gave to her in these days. When Bill and Sherry moved to Ellijay, they didn't know it was for this church. But that is what happened, and God used The Orchard Church to prepare them both for heaven. On May 14, 2025, Sherry joined Bill not as husband and wife, but as brother and sister worshipping the One in whom they had placed all their hope. Sherry is with Jesus now – and she is more alive than ever before!
Sherry's family and friends mourn and grieve, but we look forward to our future reunion through our shared hope in Jesus Christ. A celebration of life for her will be held Sunday, June 8, 2025, at 3pm at The Orchard Church (7288 Hwy 515 N, Ellijay, GA 30536). This event will be family friendly, so bring your children. Sherry would be thrilled to have them there! A reception will follow, and the family would love to greet you.
In lieu of flowers, Sherry's family invites you to donate in her memory to The Orchard Church's Highland Fund towards their new, expanded facility. Sherry believed in this project and was excited to see how it would be used to bless the people of Ellijay and the community that she held so dear.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.loganfuneralhome.com. Logan Funeral Home & Chapel is in charge of arrangements.