Gerald David Starks

Gerald David Starks, 69, was born on October 5, 1952, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to the late Charles Alvin Starks and late Margaret Paris Starks.

As a young child, Gerald was a newspaper carrier for the Chattanooga Times. Gerald graduated from Chattanooga High School (City High School) and later attended Middle Tennessee State University.

In 1975, Gerald joined American General Life & Accident Insurance (AIG) Company’s Nashville office as an agent. Gerald continued on to earn numerous company sales and service honors and promotions, and worked as part of AIG’s Nashville, Atlanta, Monroe, and Pittsburgh offices during his time with the company. In 2016, Gerald retired as a general manager with AIG after 41 years of service.

Gerald was so invested in helping others protect their assets that after his retirement from AIG, he became an agent with New York Life Insurance Company, where he served for an additional five years.

Gerald was a devoted husband and father. In 1988, he married Lillie Gail Starks. The two were each other’s lifelong companions and friends. Together, they traveled the world and were blessed with four beautiful daughters.

Gerald was an active member of Zion Baptist Church, serving as a Senior Usher Board member since 2015 and Vice President of the Senior Usher Board from 2017-2018. During his free time, Gerald enjoyed volunteering at Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital, attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, renovating his properties, keeping abreast of current events, and spending one on one time with his loved ones.

Gerald was preceded in death by his father, Charles A. Starks; his mother, Margaret Paris Starks; and his sister, Iris Starks Stigall.

He leaves cherishing memories to his loving and caring wife, Lillie Gail Starks; his loving daughters, Tracee (Larry) Guilford, Tiffany (Javis) White, Trisha (Stan) Starks-Byron, and Tori Elizabeth Starks; his grandchildren, Andrea Guilford, Adrian Guilford, Davion Byron, Kingston White, Donovan White, and Denver Byron; his brothers Reginald (Shirley) Starks and Eric (Marie) Starks; his sisters Lucile (William) Phillips and Karen (Ronald) Glenn; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visitation time will be from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 15, at Heritage Funeral Home and Chapel, 907 Church St. Ext NW, Marietta, Ga. 

An 11 a.m. funeral service will be held on Friday, Sept. 16, at Zion Baptist Church, 165 Lemon St., NE, Marietta, Ga.

Interment will follow at Westview Cemetery, 1618, Westview Dr, SW, Atlanta, Ga. 30310.

Courtesy announcement is by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 423 622-9995.