Birth Date: 04/04/1937
Deceased Date: 09/02/2021
Selma- Hilda Gray Renfrow Starling went to her heavenly home on September 2, 2021 at SECU Hospice House in Smithfield. Born in Johnston County on April 4, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Willie E. Renfrow and Sallie Hare Renfrow.
Hilda graduated from Glendale High School and took business Course at Hardbarger’s Business College in Raleigh. She was a retiree of Westinghouse Electric Corporation of Raleigh, North Carolina where she worked as an executive Secretary for thirty-five years. After retirement she worked at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Smithfield for four years as the Church Secretary and at Selma Baptist Church for six years as Administrative Assistant.
Hilda accepted the Lord at the age of twelve and joined Stancil’s Chapel Original Free Will Baptist Church, the home church of the Renfrow family. She attended Branch Chapel Original Free Will Baptist Church where her daddy was pastor for 19 years.
Hilda organizes and directed the Youth Choir and assisted in the Bible School each year. She served as Pianist and Alto singer with the Branch Chapel Quartet.
During those years, she met the young man that would later become her husband. She served as Music Director, Choir Director and Sunday School teacher for sixty plus years.
Hilda served on the Literature Committee and wrote lessons for the State Woman’s Auxiliary of Original Free Will Baptist and conducted Workshops for the Woman’s Auxiliary.
Hilda was a fifty-plus years member of Selma Chapter #209 Order of the Eastern Star where she served as Worthy Matron, Associate Matron Secretary, Conductress, Associate Conductor, Martha, Esther, and Organist. At the State Grand Chapter level, Hilda served as Grand Matron, Special Page, Session Page, and Grand Chapter Committee Member.
She worked as a volunteer for the American Heart Association and the Cancer Society fundraisers.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at Branch Chapel Free Will Baptist Church. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the church just prior to the service.
In addition to her parents Hilda was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, John Kenneth Starling and brother Alton Ray Renfrow, and sister-in-law, Gaye Batten Renfrow.
She is survived by her daughter Deidra Starling Creech and husband Vernon of Selma; sister Betty Faye Renfrow Strickland and husband David of Selma; brothers, Joseph Harold Renfrow and wife Gail of Knightdale; Rev. Charles Lynwood Renfrow and wife Edna of Micro; granddaughter, Melissa Deanne Creech Monroe and husband David if Coppell, Texas; grandson, Jordan Andrew Creech and wife, Jessica of Selma; great granddaughter, Stella Grace Monroe; great grandsons, Jordan Andrew Creech Jr., James Roland Creech, and Grayson Caden Monroe; and several special nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Branch Chapel Free Will Baptist Church at 7438 NC-96 N, Selma, NC 27576
