Marian Starks

Marian Alveda Fisk Starks, of Tyler, Texas, was 92 years old when she passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 14, 2024 surrounded by her family. She was born on March 26, 1932 and lived a life dedicated to bringing the Gospel of Jesus to people nearby and in other countries. Visitation for Marian will be held at the Stewart Family Funeral Home on Tuesday, July 23 from 5 to 7 p.m. Services will be held on Wednesday, July 24, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in Shiloh Road Church of Christ with John Eastland officiating. Graveside services will be held on Friday, July 26, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in Green Lawn Cemetery in Roswell, Georgia next to her husband. Widow of Donald Pat Starks, mother of three, grandmother of eight, and great-grandmother of seven, Marian Starks retired in 1998. Her husband passed away in 1994. At the time of her retirement Marian was serving on the Foreign Missions staff of the North Atlanta Church of Christ in Atlanta, Georgia. In 1999 she moved to Tyler, Texas, where she worshiped with the Shiloh Road Church of Christ. Her daughter, Patricia Eastland, also worships at Shiloh where her husband John Eastland, serves as an Elder. Her oldest son, Walter and family, worship with the University Church of Christ in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Marian’s youngest son, Paul and family, worship with the College Hill Church of Christ in North Richland Hills, Texas. Marian earned a Master’s Degree in Education and taught at Freed Hardeman University and the Guyana School of Bible and Religion. She was author of “The Dating Game,” a Bible class study guide for teenage girls, and co-author with her husband of “GOD and MAN,” a home Bible study guide. She lectured for college lectureships, soul-winning workshops, teacher training seminars, and ladies’ retreats, and taught Bible classes from infants to senior ladies. For fifteen years Marian edited the North Atlanta Foreign Campaigns Newsletter and frequently wrote articles for brotherhood papers. She also wrote one of the chapters in a book published by the Freed-Hardeman University Associates. Married for 38 years, Marian worked alongside her husband as he preached for churches in Kentucky, Tennessee, and Louisiana; for nine years as he served as Public Relations Representative for World Radio; for three years as a resident missionary on the island of Trinidad, West Indies; two years in Guyana, South America and for twenty five years leading campaign groups to multiple islands in the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Pacific, and Russia. Together they led more than 100 campaign groups, witnessed more than 3,000 people baptized, and saw churches established on 21 Caribbean islands and three countries in South America—Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana. They were involved in the establishment of two Preacher Schools, one in Trinidad, West Indies, and the other in Guyana, South America. Their work from 1976 to 1985 was under the direction of the Darby Drive Church of Christ in Florence, Alabama. In 1985, Don and Marian moved to Atlanta, Georgia to serve on the Foreign Missions staff of the North Atlanta Church of Christ. Their work in South America was their major focus during this period. Don’s battle with cancer began late in 1990. After his passing in 1994, Marian continued to serve on the North Atlanta missions staff as Coordinator of Campaigns for six more years. She organized 30 campaigns (21 in Russia, 7 in Guyana and 2 in Suriname) and personally worked in 16 of these. She also coordinated three tours of the Bible Lands including Israel, Greece, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt and Rome. Marian enjoyed traveling, reading, teaching, writing, and singing. She always enjoyed sports. Her latest passion was snow skiing which she learned when she was 52 and gave up at 80. After retirement she moved to Tyler and enjoyed spending quality time with her grandchildren. She continued to be involved in activities of the church having taught a Ladies’ Class at Shiloh Road in Tyler for 20 years, and during that time taught every book in the New Testament as well as “God’s Woman,” “O.T. Sacrifices” and “The Holy Spirit.” Marian was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Pat Starks; father, Lenice Edward Fisk; and mother, Lola Jane Cox Fisk. She is survived by her loving family, united in the love of Christ, including her daughter Trish Eastland of Tyler, Texas and husband John; son Walter Starks of Tuscaloosa, Alabama and wife Valerie; son Paul Starks of Hurst, Texas and wife Suzanne; grandchildren Kristen (Cameron) Williams, Spencer (Shanae) Eastland, Brad Starks, Lindsay (Jacob) Young, Michael Starks, Kinsey (Colby) Wallis, Mason (Taylor) Starks, Matthew Starks; great grandchildren Jodi Lynn Williams, Easton Williams, Haven Eastland, Darcie Eastland, Theron Eastland, Blair Young, and Chloe Young. If you want to honor Marian with a memorial, donations can be made to her scholarship benefiting students majoring in Bible: Harding University Advancement Office Don and Marian Starks Endowed Scholarship 915 E Market Ave, Box 12238 Searcy, Ar 72149 Or online at www.harding.edu/give In Honor of: Marian Starks. Designation: Other-Don and Marian Starks Endowed Scholarship

Marian Starks

March 26, 1932 - July 14, 2024