Melvin Fred Starnes of Sturgis, MS, passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at his residence near Sturgis, MS. Melvin was born on February 8, 1946 in Sturgis, MS to Joseph and Arlin Juanita (Sanders) Boyd. He was 77 years old. Melvin was a former welder at Gulf States in Starkville, MS.
Memorial visitation services will be held at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church in Bradley, MS on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 10:00 AM until 11:00 AM. A Memorial Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 AM at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. Rev. Mike Sanders will officiate.
Melvin is survived by his daughter, Cathy Wyckoff (Steve) of Sturgis, MS, two brothers, Hazel Starnes of Sturgis, MS and Chris Starnes (Debbie) of Sturgis, MS. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Tyler and Johnson Wyckoff and two great grandchildren, William Wilson, Jr. and Julia Wyckoff, as well as two special family members, Jane McCool of Sturgis, MS and her daughter Marci Wilson (William) of Eupora, MS.
He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Arlin Juanita Boyd, three brothers, Joe Allen Starnes, Jesse Howard Starnes, and Donald Clyde Starnes, one sister, Nancy Irene Holston Romaine and each of his paternal and maternal aunts and uncles.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and/or an organization of choice.