Obit – Mr. Joe Don Starnes

Mr. Joe Don Starnes of Cages Bend Lane in the Riddleton Community was pronounced deceased at the Smith County Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage at 9:02 a.m. Monday morning September 22, 2025 at the age of 78. He was under the care of Gentiva Hospice of Livingston.

Mr. Starnes was at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home and the daughter elected to have cremation. That was performed at Cumberland Family Services in Algood.

Following cremation, Mr. Starnes will be buried with his wife, Betty Jo, at the Gordonsville Cemetery.

He was born on July 5, 1947 in the Brush Creek Community and was the son of the late Curtis Starnes who died June 20, 1955 at the age of 32 and Virginia “Jim” Nixon Starnes who died July 3, 1990 at the age of 66.

Mr. Starnes was predeceased by several siblings and a granddaughter, Amy Jude and a step-son Walter Weatherford who died April 26, 2022 at the age of 49.

On August 16, 1977 he was united in marriage to the former Betty Jo Grisham. She preceded him in death on January 16, 2009 at the age of 61 following almost thirty-two years of marriage.

A retired farmer, his hobbies were fishing and cooking, but nothing equaled the love he had for his family.

He was an attendee of the Rome Baptist Church. 

Surviving is a daughter, Jodi Anderson of the Riddleton Community; step-daughter, Dorothy Searcy of Smithville; sister, Pamela Rackley of Smithville; brother, Terry Starnes of the Hickman Community; two grandchildren, Ethan Fili Povic and wife Melissa of Woodbury, Tinothy Wilson of Nashville; several great-grandchildren.

SANDERSON of CARTHAGE