Jerry Dan Sanders Starkey, 79, of the city of Central, Louisiana, passed away on Monday, April 29, 2024, while surrounded by her family. Jerry and her identical twin sister were born on Christmas Day, 1944. Jerry met the love of her life, David Morgan Starkey, while attending Southeastern Louisiana University. She and David married on November 23, 1963, and went on to have three children. Against all odds, Jerry survived a brain aneurysm at the age of 45. She never complained, she never gave up, and she always managed to smile through her adversity. She is survived by her husband David, who promised God he would take care of her if she survived the aneurysm. He kept his promise, caring for her until the day of her death. Their love and their dedication to each other during their 60 years of marriage was inspiring.
She was preceded in death by her father, Ernest Walker Sanders, Sr., who died on her and her sister’s birthday, Christmas Day, 1967, and by her mother Mary Dell Thames Sanders Graves. She was also preceded in death by her beloved identical twin, Mary Ann Sanders Starkey; her brothers-in-law, Robert H. Starkey and Kirk E. Starkey; father-in-law Abe H. Starkey; mother-in-law Donna E. Starkey; and stepfather, James Graves.
Jerry is survived by her husband, David Morgan Starkey; her children and their spouses, Jeffery Todd Starkey and wife Karen, Sharon Starkey Whitlow and husband Stephen, and Russell Edwards Starkey and wife Wendy; and her brother, Ernest Walker Sanders, Jr. (Sue). She is also survived by 10 grandchildren: Nicole Purvis Breedlove (Ryan), Heather Purvis Lockhart (Michael), Brittany Starkey Bouligny (Christian), Dr. Sarah Whitlow Kirk (Austin), Morgan Starkey (Meaghan), Samuel Whitlow, Logan Starkey, Caidyn Chiasson (fiancé Aleece), Hayden Starkey and Jackson Whitlow. She is survived by 6 great-grandchildren: Adalyn Stoltz, Natalie Breedlove, Jude Lockhart, Molly Breedlove, Ellis Lockhart and Ellie Mae Bouligny. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Finally, Jerry is survived by Jessica Snowbarger, Brooklyn Dar Dar, Jennifer Gremillion Glissman, Samantha Campo Temple, Abbey Wootan, Lenzi Zito and more than 30 other caregivers who lovingly cared for her through the years, becoming part of her family.
Services will be held at Blackwater United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 4, 2024, with visitation beginning at 9:30 A.M. followed by services at 11:00 A.M. and burial at Roselawn Cemetery. The funeral service will be conducted by Mark Jones, Fr. Mike Moroney and Deacon Robert Kusch.
Pallbearers will be Ryan Breedlove, Morgan Starkey, Logan Starkey, Caidyn Chiasson, Hayden Starkey and Jackson Whitlow. Honorary Pallbearers will be Michael Lockhart, Christian Bouligny, Austin Kirk and Samuel Whitlow.
Special thanks to The Hospice of Baton Rouge Palliative and Hospice teams, Pinnacle Home Health, Camille Carmena and the Blackwater UMC community.
