James William "Willie"
James William "Willie", born August 22, 1867, was the oldest child of John Henry Starr and Ellen Athay (Ogletree). He was only eight years old when his father died and not quite 21 when his mother died in January 1888. Willie and Eleanor Beatrice Coleman were married February 2, 1888 at County Line Church by the Rev. J. H. Elder. Three children were born in this marriage:
Henry Embry b. December 11, 1888 d. November 1, 1890
James Pierce b. July 9, 1890
Eleanor Kate b. March 25, 1893 d. July 5, 1893
Eleanor died March 31, 1893. Willie then married Nettie Bell Leach December 28 that same year. They were married in the home of one brother, J. H. (Joshua Howard) Starr, and were married by another of his brothers, Rev. David E. Starr. David was then "back home on a visit" from Texas. Willie and Nettie had:
David Homer b. February 12, 1895 d. December 14, 1932
John Henry b. December 24, 1896
Willie Bell b. December 16, 1898 d. February 11 (14), 1899
Willie Ruth b. May 2, 1900 d. April 2, 1901
Nannie Ellen b. March 9, 1904
Edna Jane b. August 26, 1905 d. January 28, 1906
Nettie Bell died in Atlanta February 6, 1941 and James William "Willie" April 23, 1941. These obituaries describe his interesting life:
DEATH CLAIMS J. W. STARR AT 74
Lumber Firm President to Be Buried Friday
J. W. Starr, 74, president of J. W. Starr and Sons Lumber Company, died Wednesday at the home of his son, J. H. Starr, at 870 Virginia Avenue, N. E., after a few weeks' illness. His wife, Nettie Leach Starr, died only two months ago. Born in Spalding County, Mr. Starr was in the lumber manufacturing business over 50 years, and for over 40 years he lived in Atlanta. He was a member of the official board of the Methodist Church more than 50 years, being honorary life chairman of the board of stewards of the Druid Hills Methodist Church. Surviving are two sons, J. P. and J. H. Starr, a daughter, Mrs. W. C. Waters Jr., 11 grandchildren and a great-grandchild. Funeral services will be held Friday at 3 p.m. from the Druid Hills Methodist Church, Dr. Eugene C. Few, Bishop Arthur J. Moore and the Rev. R. A. Edmondson will officiate. Burial will be in West View Cemetery.
A patriarch in Israel has fallen
James William Starr, 74, for over fifty years a lumber manufacturer and dealer, for more than fifty years a Methodist steward, member of the Druid Hills board and honorary vice chairman for life of the board, died at the home of his son, J. H. Starr, 870 Virginia Avenue, N. E., Wednesday, April 23. For more than a half century he had been a leader in business, civic and church affairs, and commanded the respect and affection of all who knew him. Two sons and a grandson served with him on the Druid Hills board, believed to be the only instance in Southern Methodism where three generations served on the same official board at the same time. Funeral services were conducted at Druid Hills church Friday afternoon, April 25, by his pastor, Dr. Eugene C. Few, assisted by Bishop Arthur J. Moore and Rev. R. A. Edmondson. Interment was in West View cemetery.
In 1925 "Uncle Willie" decided to compile a history of the families of John Henry Starr. JWs Book.pdf is believed the portion of his family records he compiled on his immediate family. James Pierce.pdf tried to complete the family records compilation before his father's death. However, he appears to have forgotten his own family for this file includes two telegrams, presumably sent to Helen (Starr) Wade in Dallas. Kerlin & Starr.pdf and JW Family.pdf gives more data on this family.
Willie wrote a short history of the family, presumably for inclusion in his book. See History.pdf