Josephine Starling

Josephine Davis Starling, 96, passed away Tuesday, January 25, 2011, at Autumn Care in Statesville. She was born in Washington, D.C. on May 4, 1914 and was the daughter of the late Harry A. and Amelia Becker Davis. On December 3, 1943, she married Guy W. Starling of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. Mrs. Starling was a church musician. She was organist at Anacostia Episcopal Church for 13 years and at Westover Baptist Church in Arlington, VA for 30 years. She and her husband were members of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Arlington, VA since 1949. Mrs. Starling was active in a church circle and also served as their Bible moderator. She was the Sunday school secretary for 20 years, and she and her husband were Meals on Wheels volunteers for 35 years. She was a lifetime member of the Abigail Hartman Rice Chapter of the DAR. Mrs. Starling is survived by her children, Joanna Murphy of Statesville and Guy Starling, Jr. (Helen) of Warner-Robins, Ga. She is also survived by four grandchildren, Kate Murphy Icard (George), Patrick Murphy (Amy), both of Statesville, and Stephanie Guimond (Steve) of Kathleen, Ga., and Jennifer Holloway (Kenneth) of Frederick, Md. Seven great-grandchildren, Rebecca Kate Ayers, Sarah Beth Murphy, Jacob Murphy, John Michael Snow, Amanda Guimond, and Sam Guimond. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Starling was preceded in death by her husband in 2007 and one sister, Margaret. Memorial funeral services will be held 11:00 am Saturday, January 29, 2011, in the Nicholson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Judith Fulp-Eickstaedt and Rev. John Jones officiating. The family will visit with friends following the services. Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, 740 N. Center St., Statesville, N.C. 28677, or to Trinity Presbyterian Church, 5533 16th Street North, Arlington, VA 22205, or to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, N.C. 28625. Online condolences may be made at www.nicholsonfunerals.com/obituaries. Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family of Josephine Davis Starling.