Obituaries

Jane Gillespie Starling

Photo of Jane Gillespie Starling
JANE GILLESPIE STARLING, 74, of Little Rock, died Friday, Oct. 9, 2015 after a brief illness. The longtime Pine Bluff resident was born June 17, 1941, in Norfolk, Va. to the late Admiral Thomas Evan Gillespie and Wilma Jane Stephens Gillespie. Moving to Pine Bluff in the early 1950s, she was a 1959 Pine Bluff High School graduate. She attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Jane also was a Vanderbilt cheerleader, and that is how she met her future husband, Jeff Starling, who was a starting football player for the Commodores. A few weeks after graduation, she married Marion Jefferson "Jeff" Starling, Jr. in Pine Bluff on June 22, 1963. Jane, Jeff, and their children returned to Pine Bluff in 1969 where she lived until moving to Little Rock in 2010. While living in Pine Bluff, Jane served many charitable organizations and was actively involved in the Pine Bluff schools and community. She was past president of the Junior League of Pine Bluff, former president of the Arkansas Vanderbilt Club, and former president of Volunteers in Public Schools in Pine Bluff. She also served as the Jefferson County Coordinator for Governor Clinton's 1990 campaign, Coordinator of Freedom Fest in 1991, Development Officer for the Arts and Science Center for Southeast Arkansas from 1992 to 1997, then Guest Relations Specialist for Jefferson Regional Medical Center from January of 1997 to June of 2006. Jane also volunteered on the Governor's Mansion Association Board, Old State House Museum Associates Board, and the Governor's Mansion Commission. She also was a member of the Mathontes Club, Junior Sesame Club, and the Hawthorne Book Club. She was a longtime and active member of First Presbyterian Church in Pine Bluff, where she served as an Elder and the Chairman of the Memorials Committee. Upon moving to Little Rock, she became an active member of Second Presbyterian Church. Jane was preceded in death by her husband and her niece, Susan Gillespie Elliott. Her survivors include two sons, M. Jefferson "Jeff" Starling III (Sumner) of Birmingham, Ala. and John T. Starling (Vicky) of Little Rock; brother, Thomas Evan Gillespie, Jr. (Sally) of Georgetown, S.C.; grandchildren: Jane Perry Starling, Walker Starling, Pierce Starling, and Walton Starling; and longtime friend, Mike Riggs of Peachtree City, Ga. The family also wishes to thank Dr. Brad Thomas for his extraordinary care for her during her illness and to Second Presbyterian associate pastor, Dr. Karen Akin, for her daily support. Jane enjoyed entertaining, traveling, fishing, bridge, crossword puzzles, cheering for Vanderbilt, and all of her clubs and organizations. Most importantly, she loved spending time with her family. She lived her life faithfully by serving God and others. She never met a stranger and she spent a lifetime caring for family and friends. Services are Thursday, Oct. 15 at 10:30 a.m. at graveside in Pine Bluff in Bellwood Cemetery by Ralph Robinson & Son, with her niece, Reverend Emery Gillespie, officiating. A memorial service follows at 2 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church in Little Rock with Reverend Steve Hancock officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Second Presbyterian Church, 600 Pleasant Valley Drive, Little Rock, AR 72227 or First Presbyterian Church, 717 West 32nd Avenue, Pine Bluff, AR 71603. Online register: www.ralphrobinsonandson.com.

Published October 11, 2015

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