Dear family,  
Thinking of you today.  
Love,  Wiley and Mary Younce  and family

Would always make a bet with me on if she’d finish her food and never won🤣

11/11 @ 11:00
We walked into Glynn Academy Auditorium; Straight ahead, on the large screen, was an old photograph of Star. I noticed that surrounding her were several ladies from Selma. Most of them now gone; many years before her. BeBe, Jane, Anne, Josephine and Elise now have a new angel with them and also a very old friend.
As I sat at her “Celebration of Life”, so diligently and lovingly orchestrated by her sons, Keehln & Woody and immediate family, I looked over to my mother, Rosemary, and thanked God for the sweet gift of her. I thanked God for the gift of friendship, love, and the kindness and praise that was filling this grand space. But most of all, for the glory of beautiful Mary Star Woodard Wheeler. She was truly a God-Given Gift! A shining star…
I won’t take the time to tell how she touched my life or my 1982 Europe trip. Because at that moment in time, holiness was filling everyone’s hearts and souls. You could feel her spirit within you as the choir sang songs of praise especially ‘Hallelujah’. Leonard Cohen was percolating through my veins and the salt from my tears was slowly streaming down my cheeks, as well as others seated near me. We were all there to honor and celebrate a true southern lady!
Star Wheeler was my mother’s confidant, travel partner for 19 trips to Europe, 1 trip to Africa, she was her “Star Baby” and Mom was her “RoRo”. She was her dearest friend and will be greatly and sadly missed. But, as her dear friends’ spoke, they mentioned in their wonderful and engaging stories of Star, we know where she is… “no one is lost when you know where they are”.
Star was so loved and so treasured. Why? Because she treated people the way SHE felt they should be treated. She was fair, honest, thoughtful, kind and true. If there is one thing we can do to honor her, it is to try to emulate her graciousness and goodness.
Thank you Star for brightening my life. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be wishing on a STAR tonight! 🌟

Even though I was never one of her students she was incredibly kind and supportive .  Transferring from a different school I had few friends.  She let a group of us eat lunch in her room almost everyday. We discussed everything from history, to lessons in life.  She may not have been one of my teachers, but she taught me a great deal.  I will forever be grateful for her wisdom and more importantly, her friendship.

My condolences to the Wheeler family. Mrs. Wheeler was such a special woman and great teacher. My mother passed away when I was in high school and I had no one to walk out with me on senior night at the football game, Mrs Wheeler gladly accepted and accompanied me that night. It meant so much to a very sad and lost teenage boy. She's not just my favorite teacher but one of my favorite people. I've missed her since I left school and she was such a positive influence. God bless.

Wheeler family I am so sorry for your loss. Mrs. Wheeler taught me back in 1979 when I moved to Georgia from Philadelphia. She welcomed me with open arms and during my next few years at Glynn Academy she always checked up on me. I will always cherish the memories.

God Bless
Dian Wright

I send my sincere and heartfelt condolences for Mrs. Wheelers family. She was a life changing educator for so many of us. She opened the door of international travel and sparked an appreciation for global experiences and history.  When I was in her class I felt like she cared about me as a person and a student. Thank you for allowing so many of us to share a small pieces of this wonderful women. 

Dr. SaDohl Kisha Goldsmith Jones
Glynn Academy Class of 1997

In ninth grade, I had to make up my geography final for another teacher and I had forgotten my pencil. The other teacher told me that if I couldn’t find a pencil within the next few minutes I wouldn’t be able to take the final at all and would get a zero because it was my responsibility to have brought all my materials. I was practically in tears when Miss Wheeler walked by and saw me fumbling through my book bag panicking. She waltzed into the room and asked me what was wrong, barely acknowledging the other teacher, and said to me (something along the lines of), “Sweetie, don’t worry, come on over to my room, I got one for you.” I went over to her class and she pulled out this amalgamation of pens, pencils, markers, etc…  We eventually found a pencil in there that was sharpened and had an eraser. 

I had been going through some rough times and to have one person go out of their way and do a kindness for you when you are in a state like that has a domino effect on your entire well-being that’s hard to explain. I had her for two semesters of AP world history after that and I continued to see her here and there on Saint Simons for years. We would always say hello, “I love all my babies!” she would say. 

I work with kids in DFCS custody and most come to me on one of their worst days. If I can make one child feel just a little more at ease by being sweet, like Ms. Wheeler did for me then I have done some small good in the world, because like I said, it has a domino effect (nothing huge lol but definitely significant!) What I am trying to say is that she taught me to always be kind and give grace. 

Acts of kindness beget acts of kindness exponentially and that is just one tiny ways, out of what I’m sure are a plethora of other ways her life will continue to have a positive effect on others for years and years and years …

A “lamb” of God to us all. From the “challenging” (like me) to the exceptional students. She was an everlasting love of light! A family friend and dear colleague to my daddy during his teaching years at GA, she always knew how to make you feel special. I’ll never forget her patience and kindness towards me during my challenging years at GA. She took the time to speak to me and not at me. She made a significant impact on my life, my children’s lives and my daddy’s life. The goodbye is temporary…but the reunion is forever. May God usher you up with lovingkindness as you did to all of us Mrs. Wheeler. 

One of your many “lambs”,
David Sharpe
GA Class of 1997

Sending our love and condolences. We will miss Star. Every year for the pass 14 or 15 years we have celebrated our birthdays together over lunch. Will miss all the shared stories from her trips to Africa.
Love,
Roz Sheppard & Paulette Pinckney

I am sorry to hear about the losing of a wonderful person as Star Wheeler.  I had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Wheeler at GA for 11 years. She always carried a warm smile and a loving deposition.  She will be truly missed. My prayers are with the family.

Thoughts and prayers to her family. She was a wonderful teacher, one of my favorites.

I am deeply saddened at the  passing of my tenth grade teacher.   I remember Mrs. Wheeler  as a woman with a very generous spirit.   She taught me all about the   Cro-magnon man,   the Peking and the Neanderthal . Her class prepared  me for college in a huge way.  I bless her memory!  To the family , my thoughts and prayers are with you.   My condolences!  Daniel Frazier class of '81

Star Wheeler, I am so blessed to have crossed paths with you in this life.  Not only were you the absolute best teacher I ever had, you taught me to be enthusiastically curious about this big world we live in.  You taught me to be open to different foods and perspectives and to be comfortable being the outsider.  You treated your students with firmness but always with respect.  My life changed the moment my parents made me spend my savings on my first Wheeler tour of Europe instead of on a car...which would have long since rusted away.  I made memories and friends and longed to explore the world even more.  I had the joy of joining you on 3 total trips and those were some of the greatest memories of my life.  You inspired me to live and study in France, which led me to my wife and 3 wonderful children.  I'm proud to have given each of my kids the travel bug as well.  Thank you for being a wonderful teacher, an amazing inspiration, and a good friend. You are so well loved and missed.

Two beautiful friends-Star and Anita Acklen.⭐️

Star wanted a picture in front of the Bed and Breakfast where we had tea. How could I say no?⭐️

Anita Acklen, Ellie Snow and Star at Cilantro’s celebrating Anita’s birthday.⭐️

Anita Acklen, Ellie Snow, Star, Frankie Ansley and Marion Cherne at Maggie Mae’s.⭐️

Keehln, Woody, Rebecca, Jenny, Sarah and families,
I don't know that I have adequate words to describe how much Star meant to me. The loss we all feel is immeasurable. Thank you all so much for sharing her with me for the last 40 years. She was a treasure and I will miss her every day. Know that we are lifting you up in prayer. I love you all so much.
War Eagle forever, my Star.
Rebecca Hummel

Glynn Academy Class of 1983 Reunion (8/26/23) with Another special teacher, Charlie Nutt.  

Praying for your family during this most difficult time.  May they have comfort and peace knowing you are with Our Heavenly Father and what a legacy you have left behind!  Love you!

Thinking of your family during this difficult time. I pray God brings you peace, comfort, and strength. I am very sorry for your loss.

Oh my beautiful Star is in Heaven! She will be deeply missed, but her smiles and kindnesses she gave to others will be remembered forever….especially through all the students lives she touched (like mine). Star was such a wonderful person, mentor, and friend to me in my teens and beyond. I will always have fond memories of the lunches, talks, and European trip adventures we had the summer of 1982. Thank you Star for the wonderfulness that was you, and heartfelt prayers for your family as they deal with their loss.

Dear family,
You are in our thoughts and prayers.  Star was a special person.  She touched many people’s lives.  She will be missed. 
Love, Wiley and Mary Younce and family

OBITUARY

Star Woodard Wheeler

September 2, 1937 – October 24, 2023

Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home

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