Luretha Starkey - Obituary

uretha Latten Starkey, was born on May 30, 1940 in Winston Salem, North Carolina, to Stephen Latten and Beulah Carter. On Thursday night, March 10, 2016, after bidding all her loved ones good bye and telling them she loved them Lou made her transition at the Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Maryland. She was educated in the public school system of Florence, South Carolina and graduated in 1958. She subsequently relocated to the District of Columbia and met and married Eddie Starkey. Later they moved to New York, New York and had two children Carl and Terri. In 1970 Lou returned to the Metropolitan area with her children and established residence in Forestville, Maryland. She began her Federal employment in 1970 with the Treasury Department, Bureau of Engraving and Printing where she remained for a number of years. In 1974, due to her excellent personnel skills, she was recruited to handle a Reduction in Force (RIP) in Treasury’s Bureau of Government Financial Operations. Her success with this RIF resulted in a number of employees being placed in jobs in other federal agencies affording them the opportunity to maintain job security. In 1990, having overseen the successful college education of both of her children, Lou elected to retire from the Treasury Department. Although retired she did not sit at home and waste time. She quickly volunteered as a Critical Care Volunteer at Southeast Community Hospital (Cafritz) for ten years where she gave support to families whose love ones were critically ill. Lou was a world class traveler and ventured to places such as Hawaii, Italy, Jamaica, California, Casinos throughout the Nation, Caribbean Cruises, Canada and many, many more places. On January 28, 2012, Luretha, after participating in a powerful worship service, heard the voice of God and united with the St. Paul Baptist Church where she attended faithfully in Sunday School as well as Worship Service. She loved the teaching by Minister Brenda Otto and Rev. Herb Williams and the preached sermons by all the ministers. Luretha leaves to cherish her memories a son, Carl, daughter, Terri. Four grandchildren, Ross, Derek, Kayla, and Diana. Nieces, Juanita Smith and Sonia Latten of New York, New York. Nephews Ernest Smith and Stephen Latten of New York, New York, and Paul Latten of Texas. Her god daughter Sherita Gray and many friends including Charlotte Gray, Mamie Dawkins, Antoinette Young, Gloria Walker, Marguerite Lockley, Bernice Fields, Michelle Dunwoody, Pinkque Alston, Octavia Holmes, the Queen Family (John & Vanessa) and a host of many other friends. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul Church, 6611 Walker Mill Rd., Capitol Heights, MD.