Annie Maude Starks-Clark (Ms. Annie)

Annie Maude Starks-Clark (Ms. Annie), 79, of Columbus, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at home surrounded by her loving family.  She was born in Zebulon, Georgia on December 31, 1941 and the daughter of John Alonzo and Mary Lee (Jones) Smith.

Ms. Annie graduated from Springfield South High School and retired from The Ohio State University Faculty Club.  Ms. Annie accepted Christ at an early age.  She was a member of Smyrna Missionary Baptist Church where she was a member of the Deaconess Board.  She also attended New Birth Christian Ministries until she was unable to due to Dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Ms. Annie is preceded in death by her loving husband of 16 years, James Albert Clark, her parents, and oldest brother John H. Smith.  Ms. Annie leaves to cherish her memory her children, Diane Smith (Steve), Joyce Warren (Calvin, Sr.), Barbara Smith-Allen (Eugene), Tony Smith (Tracie), Teresa Starks and Richard Starks (Helen), all of Columbus; seventeen grandchildren, Stephanie, Steven, Calvin, Jr., Brandon, Marqus, Ashlei, Takara, Nija, Daqueeshia, Mikeal, Terran, Jevon, Duane, D’Siyah, Duaneeshia, Terrika and Richard, Jr.; twenty-one great grandchildren, Spirit, Jaylen, Lazarus, Stormee, Terrell, Takhia, Takari, Takyra, Tyrell, Tamir, Padrieanna, Sh’kari, Aarrina, Mikeal, Jr., Sean’te, Savon, Za’Mir, MaKeena, Richard, III, Richaad, and Ra’Nye; four sisters, Ellen Smith and Annie Bea Holloway, both of Springfield, Ohio; Viola Smith and Mildred Mayo, both of Los Angeles, California; six brothers, Roland Smith, Robert Smith and Marshall Smith, of Springfield, Ohio; Marvin Smith of Cincinnati, Ohio; James Smith of San Diego, California and Albert Smith of Dayton, Ohio; and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends.

Ms. Annie was a loving and charitable person.  She enjoyed cooking for her family and friends, feeding the homeless, and ensuring that all the neighborhood children were fed. Ms. Annie was known for and was often requested to make her infamous chicken salad.  She also loved to travel and shop.  If Ms. Annie were not doing the things noted, you could find her playing bingo. She lived, laughed, and loved.  Each one of her children thought they were her favorite, but her favorite was whomever, at the time, needed her most.  Ms. Annie’s memory of love and giving will live on in the lives of her six children, 17 grandchildren and 21 and counting great grandchildren.

Visitation 10:00 AM and Funeral Service 11:00 AM Thursday, May 27, 2021 at New Birth Christian Ministries, 3475 Refugee Rd,. Interment at Glen Rest Memorial Estates. Ministry of Comfort entrusted to MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST, 5456 E. Livingston Ave. To read the complete obituary, order flowers, view video tribute and offer condolences to the Starks-Clark Family, visit www.TheChapelofPeace.com