Upson’s Oldest Resident Dies

Mrs. Rushie Dykes Starley died Monday, two months past her 108th birthday. She held the title of Upson County’s oldest resident and one of just two or three her age to survive statewide.

Mrs. Starley was born May 29, 1903 in Bleckley County, Georgia. Her mother died when she was five years old and she lived with various relatives as a young child. She remembered picking cotton as early as age seven and could recall the harsh times that were typical of farm life in the early 1900’s. She retired from B. F. Goodrich after working over twenty years at Martha Mills.

Mrs. Starley’s husband Charlie died in 1941 and she never remarried. They had two children and four grandchildren. The great and great-great grandchildren number around 45 today.

Mrs. Starley lived at 200 Garner Street and until recently was still very mobile, just a couple of days ago she was sitting in her chair and enjoying being with her family. She was very humble and kind, the type of person that would help a stranger without hesitation.

Funeral arrangements are on the obituary page.