Ann Mays Brooker

Celebration of Life Services will be held at 4:00 PM on August 5, 2024, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel.

Inurnment will be held on August 10, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at Brooklet City Cemetery, Brooklet, GA. Anderson-Joiner Funeral Home will be assisting with Inurnment Services in Brooklet.

A native of Brooklet, GA, Ann (as she was referred to by friends and family) was born on September 19, 1936, to Robert Scott Mays and Georgia Martha (nee Grooms) Mays. Ann had an older sister, Jane, and two younger sisters, (twins) Mary and Margaret. While they lived in Atlanta, family members back in Brooklet tell how their mom would put the girls’ names around their necks and put all four of them on the train from Atlanta to Brooklet. Ann fondly recalled spending summers in Brooklet with her maternal family. Ann attended Sylvan Hills High School in Atlanta, GA, followed by attending and graduating from Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, a beautiful private school located in Rabun Gap, GA. Ann loved her time at Rabun Gap and maintained many acquaintances with fellow classmates throughout her lifetime.

After high school, Ann married Lt. Col. David L. Starkey, US Army (retired) (deceased 2007). Together they lived in various parts of the world, including Columbus, GA; Texas; Korat, Thailand; Budingen, Germany; Ft. Leavenworth, KS; Atlanta, GA; and Columbia, SC. Ann and David Starkey had three children together, David (1955), Sharon (1957) & Darryl (1961). Ann was primarily an Army housewife. However, after her children became adults, she served in various clerical positions at the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service, South Carolina Department of Revenue, the Federal Court System and Richland Memorial Hospital. In 1983 Ann married David (Dave) B. Brooker, also a retired US Army officer. Dave Brooker passed away in 2006. Dave was beloved by Ann’s family. Ann and Dave loved going to South Carolina football games; home, away, and especially bowl games. Throughout their time together, they also loved regional travel doing such things as snow skiing and sightseeing. However, Ann’s favorite place on earth was at her cherished mountain cabin at Lake Burton, GA. She enjoyed water skiing, boating, and dining at the Dillard House (Dillard, GA), as well as sharing time with family at “The Cabin”.

In addition to her parents, Ann is preceded in death by her sisters, Jane Mays Machak-Snell, Mary Mays McConnell, Margaret Mays Price, and her 2nd husband, David B. Brooker. Those family members left to cherish her memory are her three children: David E. Starkey (Amanda) of West Columbia, SC; Sharon Starkey Statler (Chuck) of Irmo, SC; and Darryl L. Starkey (Missie) of Little Mountain, SC; step children: David B. Brooker, Jr. (Dawn) of Johns Island, SC; Kathryn E. Brooker, of Newberry, SC; and Douglas Brooker (fiance Paige Corbin) of Marietta, GA; grandchildren: Silver Entrekin (Dale), David Starkey (Ashley), Alyssa Starkey (fiance Clint Perry), Robert Statler (Morgan), Susannah Starkey Warren (Ben), Jack Starkey, and Garrett Starkey; great-grandchildren: Taylor Starkey, Devin Starkey, Camden Statler, Baylor Statler, James O’Sullivan and Joey Starkey; step great-grandchildren: Graham Brooker, Haley Brooker and Dakota Brooker.

Memorials may be made to Rabun Gap Nacoochee School, 339 Nacoochee Drive, Rabun Gap, GA 30568.