Starling Funeral Home

10/17/2026

There's a sweater in a closet somewhere that still smells like someone's cologne. A coffee mug nobody uses, but nobody can give away either. A recipe card in handwriting nobody else has.

Grief researchers call these "linking objects" — the small, ordinary things that keep us connected to the people we've lost. In our latest post, we talk about why the small things hit the hardest, and a few gentle ideas for honoring what's left behind.

📖 Read more — https://www.heritagefamily.com/ordinary-objects-memories-of-loved-ones/

10/16/2026

Mr. John Vaughn, 92, of Grovetown, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

John proudly served his country in the United States Army for over 20 years before retiring from military service. A Vietnam War veteran, he was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. He retir...

View John Ray Vaughn's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

10/12/2026

Today, we honor the Indigenous peoples who have called this land home long before it had a name on any map — their histories, their resilience, and the traditions still carried forward by their communities today.

We believe deeply in the power of story, memory, and honoring those who came before us. It's the same belief that guides everything we do for the families we serve.

Today, we extend that same reverence to the Indigenous communities in the areas where we live and work.

We're grateful for the chance to reflect, to learn, and to listen. 🌿

10/10/2026

Today is World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. 💛

Many of the families we serve come to us after weeks or months spent alongside a hospice or palliative care team. Those caregivers bring gentle hands and a steady presence during the transition. Their care shapes how we remember a loved one's final days, with comfort and dignity at the center.

Today, we're grateful for the hospice and palliative care professionals in our communities, and we remember the loved ones they comforted along the way. Thank you for walking with families through some of life's most tender days.

10/05/2026

Safety pins for a button that gives way at the worst moment. Bobby pins for hair that won't cooperate under stress. Static spray for a dress that has other plans. It's the stuff nobody sees us plan for — until we need it.

Because on one of the the hardest days, we don't want a wardrobe malfunction to be the thing they remember.

It's a small thing and one of the many thoughtful things we think about and do.

10/01/2026

Behind the scientist who redefined our understanding of animals stood a woman who never lost her sense of wonder or her belief in hope.

Today, we're featuring Jane Goodall, who passed away on this day, October 1, 2025.

She walked into the forests of Gombe as a young woman with no formal degree, and emerged having changed science forever. She showed the world that chimpanzees use tools, form deep bonds, and grieve. She spent the rest of her life traveling nearly 300 days a year, urging audiences of every age to act and support animal welfare.

Jane Goodall's funeral was held on November 12, 2025, at Washington National Cathedral, where her three grandchildren and longtime friend Leonardo DiCaprio paid tribute. "Most people knew her as Jane Goodall, the icon, the legend," DiCaprio said. "But the Jane I was fortunate enough to get to know was gentle, curious, funny, witty and absolutely unstoppable."

Her legacy reminds us that changing the world doesn't require permission — just patience, curiosity, and the courage to look closely at what everyone else overlooked.

09/30/2026

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month — a time to honor the survivors, the fighters, and the ones we've lost too soon.

We are where families go to remember — and this month, remembering means holding space for every part of the journey. The early mornings at treatment. The quiet strength nobody saw. The celebrations of remission. And the grief, for the families whose fight didn't end the way they'd hoped.

To the survivors: we see your courage.
To the caregivers: we see your love.
To those who lost someone this year, or many years ago: we remember with you.

💗 Consider getting screened, supporting someone in treatment, or simply reaching out to someone who's been through it. Small acts of remembrance matter all year long.

09/29/2026

Mr. Mahon Brice Salley, 91, of Harlem, Georgia, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2026.

Affectionately known as “Gandy” to his grandchildren, Brice was a man who understood that the greatest parts of life are often found in the simplest moments. Family was everything to him, especially hi...

View Mahon Brice Salley's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.

09/28/2026

Mrs. Ruth Tracy Blackburn, 62, of Harlem, Georgia, passed away on Friday, September 25, 2026.

Ruth was a hardworking and dedicated wife, mother, daughter, and friend. She poured her heart into the community of Harlem, a place she loved deeply. She loved life, loved her work, and most of all,...

View Ruth Tracy Blackburn's obituary, contribute to their memorial, see their funeral service details, and more.