Mae Ellen Jefferson Starks, 89, passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, January 2, 2015. She was born in Mayesville, South Carolina on October 5, 1925 to Mr. Ivory and Mrs. Carrie Inez Wilder Jefferson. Mae received her high school diploma from Mayesville Institute High School and later went on to receive her Bachelor of Science degree in Primary Education from Winston-Salem State University. She obtained her Master of Science degree in Elementary Education from NC A&T State University and completed studies at Appalachian State University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for her North Carolina Teacher Certification in Special Education.

Mae's career as a teacher spanned many years. She worked as a Teacher's Aide with Mrs. Edna Earl Johnson Bryan, the founder of the Farmette Kindergarten of Forsyth County, North Carolina and the wife of Civil Rights Activist and Professor of Religion, Dr. George McLeod Bryan. She taught at Broad River School, grade 3, in Beaufort, South Carolina and was later employed by the Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County Schools as a teacher for Exceptional Children K-12. Mae joined Forsyth Technical Community College teaching Adult Basic Education classes which were held at the Urban League Senior Center and worked in the after school program at Sprague Street YWCA.

Very active in her community, she served as a Junior Girl Scout Leader at Columbia Heights Elementary School with the late Maxwell Grier, was a telemarketer for the Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel newspapers, and participated in activities of the WSSU Class of 1955 and the Cherry Hill Community Club. She sang in several church and community choirs and served with Queen Esther Missionary Group at First Baptist Church, Highland Avenue.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by two daughters, Wandalee Inez Starks Nevels of the home and Winifred Wynné Starks (Paul Allen) Garrett of Durham, North Carolina; one son, Dr. Preston Henry (Wilma Evelyn Case) Starks of Jacksonville, Florida; six grandchildren, Adeia Michelle Nevels, Opal Wynné, Jasmine Inez, Taylor Alexander Garrett, Valerie Mae, and Phillip Henry Starks; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:30 am Saturday, January 10, 2015 at First Baptist Church, Highland Avenue. Entombment will follow in Gardens of Memory, Walkertown, NC. The family will gather at the church at 10am and receive friends in the church sanctuary until the start of the service.