Dorothy Mae Starnes

Dorothy Mae Starnes was born Dorothy Mae Ralls in Attalla, Alabama on November 06, 1929 to Irene Virginia Ralls and Jim Turner. She accepted Jesus Christ at a very early age and was baptized at Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Attalla, Alabama. As a young girl she learned how to cook, sew and garden exceptionally well. She developed a great love of the outdoors.

Dorothy also, excelled in music and academics. After graduating from Carver High in Gadsden, Alabama she received a full music scholarship for voice to Stillman College of Tuscaloosa, AL in 1947. Dorothy graduated from Stillman in 1951 with a B.S. and a B.A. and landed a teaching job back home at Norris High in Attalla, AL. She would later wed Horace Ragland and from that union came two children, Michael Cornell Ragland & Darrell Devare Ragland, Sr. In 1959 she wed Alphonza Tate (6/30/31-4/09/94) and eventually migrated north to Detroit, MI where their daughter, Deidre L. Tate was born.

Dorothy continued her teaching career in Detroit for over 40 years as a math & science teacher at Angle, Bach (Golightly) & Sherrard Middle Schools. Her passion for children & teaching endeared her to staff and students. We could rarely have a meal out without a former student spotting her, calling out her name and expressing thanks. Many former students would revisit her classroom and share their success stories which she gladly bragged about. What’s even more remarkable, she remembered every student by name and could recite funny classroom tales about their time together as teacher & student. Dorothy continued her education with graduate courses at the Univ. of Detroit to become a math specialist and master teacher. She pioneered individualized classroom instruction allowing students to continue learning beyond their designated grade levels while bringing up at risk students; leaving no child behind before that was a popular phrase. Her inner-city kids won several awards at the state equation competitions and helped secure many grants based on standardized test score improvements. At her schools, math score always exceeded reading scores; she would want you to know that. Dorothy retired her celebrated career with the Detroit Board of Education in 1994.

Her Christian journey led her to Calvary United Methodist Church, Hope Presbyterian Church and finally, NW Unity Missionary Baptist Church where she sung in the choir, taught vacation bible school and worked with the missions group. She loved studying the Word and would often share lessons with fellow church members on tapes & CD’s. She had the gifts of hospitality, teaching & compassion. Dorothy loved to cook for others, sew, garden and love on her beloved cat, Snowball. She was the matriarch of the family, serving up the best Sunday dinners with love and entertaining all with her animated antics & hilarious stories. Her nurturing nature always kept her looking after the less fortunate, from wayward neighborhood kids to homeless wanderers. It wasn’t uncommon to see her surrounded by a porch full of children in the summer or see a hardened thug run up and give her a big hug and say, I love you MS. Dorothy. Even in her suffering from chronic illness, she would tell hospital staff & caregivers about how good God is. One time there were 5 staff members surrounding her bed listening as she gave perspective on how to live your faith. There simply are not enough words to describe the impact she’s had on so many lives or express how Sister Starnes will be missed.

Dorothy made her transition to paradise November 13, 2017 at 12:38 pm in the Woodlands, TX where she resided with her daughter. She leaves to cherish her loving memory two sons; Michael Cornell Ragland (Ursula) and Darrell Devare Ragland Sr. (Lisa); one daughter, Deidre Lynn Tate; 5 grandchildren Darrell Jr, Casey, Danielle, Courtlen and Jacobi; 3 sisters, Betty, Lula and (Henrietta, who preceded her in death); One brother-n-law, Tony Blackburn; one nephew, Phaethon Blackburn (Liz); 2 daughters-n-law, Lisa Ragland and Ursula Ragland. Also, survived by a host of life-long friends, neighbors and church family.