Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Chattooga County 4-H “Breakfast with Santa” had to be cancelled this year.  The annual event brings in about $1,500 in donations to the Chattooga County 4-H Club each year.

Neva Starnes, known by many as “Nan”,  who passed away in September of this year at the age of 91, was an early supporter and volunteer for the Chattooga County 4-H Breakfast with Santa.  Extension Agent Rebecca Thomas said, “Mrs. Neva Starns was instrumental in the very beginning of Breakfast with Santa.  She added the needed holiday cheer as our delightful “Nan”.  She served as Mrs. Claus and read the book: Twas the Night Before Christmas. She greeted everyone young and old with the spirit of the Holiday Season.  I will cherish the years that Nan was able to join us in the Christmas reading. She was a true gem.”

The family of Neva Starnes wanted to do something in her honor to help, since the Chattooga County 4-H Breakfast with Santa had to be cancelled this year.  Mrs. Starnes’ family, both locally and out-of-state,  donated $1,500 to the Chattooga County 4-H Club in her honor.

Mrs. Starnes was married to the late Rev. Marlin Starnes whose first church to pastor was Pleasant Grove Baptist Church at Cloudland while he was a student at Tennessee Temple University in Chattanooga.  After pastoring churches in Missouri and Alaska for forty years, Pastor and Mrs. Starnes returned to Chattooga County.  They ministered at Ebeneezer Baptist Church in Haywood Valley and spent eight years ministering at Cove Road Baptist Church in Mentone, Alabama.  They were also members at South Summerville Baptist Church.

Mrs. Starnes was always involved in pre-school ministry.  She spent many years training others to work in preschool ministry both with the Alaska Baptist Convention and the Home Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Members of Mrs. Starnes’ family wanted to present the donation to Chattooga County 4-H in her memory to honor her lifelong service to children.