Cottie Mae was born to the late Tom and Lily Stewart on July 20, 1929, in Prattville, Alabama. She came to Florida with her father Tom and siblings who are all deceased. She attended the public schools of Hillsborough County. She was a faithful member of Macedonia MB Church for over 50 years. She loved cooking, decorating her home, reading her Bible, and listening and signing to gospel music. She also loved watching her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren enjoy family activities. She was a mother of 18 children whom she loved very much, and they also loved her even more. She was a fantastic loving fabulous and caring mother. She gave her children the best, which was her unwavering love and affection. She was a member of the Usher Board at Macedonia MB Church for many years. She was employed by the Pepin family as a housekeeper for over 35 years, the Pepin and their guest really loved Cottie Mae, especially August Busch founder of Anheuser Busch. She was an advocate and a participant in the integration process of local schools, such as Thonotosassa Elementary, Greco Jr. High, and King High Schools in East Hillsborough County in 1965. She made sure to enroll some of her children in these very same schools as time passed.

She was preceded in death by her parents Tom and Lily Stewart, husband; Ray Starks for over 70 years, and siblings; brothers, Lewis, Mack, and Earl Stewart; Sisters, Luvenia Stewart Alexander and Lille Mae Stewart-Black; children, Carolyn R. Starks, Alecia L. Starks Jackson, Betty J. Starks Reynolds, Johnny L. Starks, and Tonya D. Starks; grandchild, Cynthia M Hicks (Chee Chee)

She leaves to cherish her memories of children, Linda Starks Burston, Loretta C. Starks Hicks, Rena G. Starks Anderson, Brenda Starks, Ray J. Starks (Beverly), Judy A. Starks Brown (Reginald), Cydreia Starks, Gerald Starks (LaVida), Tammy Starks Timmons, Rickey Starks, Dwyane Starks, Ericka Starks, and Brent Starks, grandchildren, Vonda Young Stubb, Tarsha Young Wiggins, Corey Young, Craig Barnum, Kevin Priester, Micheal Hicks Jr (Cleshauna), Derick Hicks, Antonio Hicks (Nicole), Renika Anderson Williams, Shawntala Anderson and Ruben Anderson Jr.(Sheena), Tyrhonda Starks Williams (Brian), Candace, Eric, and Ingrid Starks, Jeremy and Vincent Starks, Armis Wilds(Garnell), Johnnie Jackson II, Reginald (Adrienne), Ashley and Reshard Brown, Arielle Thomas, Tamera Harris, Gerald Starks Jr. and wife, Avia and Keante Starks, Sierra, Willie III, and Dylum Timmons, Jasmine (Leon), Alexandria Wynn, and Gabrielle James. Brentny, Rayanna, Brianna, and Jeremiah Starks; great-grandchildren, Vakeya (Keion), Kavar Young, Jada, Jared, Justin, and Jayden Wiggins, Devin and Nadia Young, Kevin Priester Jr., Michael III, Stephon, Mykeda, Broadus Hicks, Kiija Burney, Nadia Williams, Nasir Everett, Gianna Anderson, Nylan Brown, Shenartu Baisden, Shiloh Davis, Rumon, Ruben II, Rusean, and Lliyah Anderson, Jarod Jones, De Andre and De Eric Williams, Jeremiah McBride, Tiniyah, TJ, Brayle, Amiaya, Kylan, Eric Jr., Erin, Elijah, Erion, Destiny, Zamiya, Ciaran Starks, Dyamond Screen, Lauren Wooten, Andre Richardson, Nicholas Thomas, Broc King, Mariah Potter, Milan Starks, Willie III, Khelese, Noah, Alliyah, Asharie, Camaron, Austin, Brandi, Zoey, Nalani, Jacion, Jessica Hicks, Kenisha Butler,Zaria Hicks, Dakoda, Derick Hicks Jr. Ronisha Hicks, Xavion Hicks, Tyson, Tineal Hicks, Micaha, and Andre Ahmad Champion, Aaron Powell, Giuliana Wilds, Garnell Wilds Jr., Johnnie Jackson IV, Javoughn Jackson, Janiya Jackson, Trillion Johnson; and a host of other great-great-grandchildren; nieces; Janet Black Smith, Kay Francis Crum, Mary, Joyce, Eloise, Denise, Twala Black, Dinah Washington Butler, Juanita Washington; nephews, Amos (Cathy), Charles, Tommie Lee, James (Robin), and Ronald (Sandra) Alexander. Cousins; Charles Stewart (Shirley), Stacey Mickles (Fred), Dr. Mary DuPont (Wallace), Debra Larry, Catherine Larry Lowe, Linda Carol Roberson; and a host of others from Alabama, Ohio, and California; Honorary sons; Christopher Frierson and Ruben Cherry; lifelong family friend, Artha Williams family friend: Marvin Knight of Oriental Fish Market. Honorary children; Tom, Jay Paul, Pam, and Jill Pepin, Church family, Macedonia MB Church; and a host of other family and friends who will miss her.

Visitation
Friday, July 28, 2023
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church
Thonotosassa, FL

Funeral Service
Saturday, July 29, 2023
11:00 AM
First Baptist Church of College Hill
3838 N 29th St
Tampa, FL 33610

Burial
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Mayberry Cemetery
10906 Bessie Dix Rd.
Seffner, FL 33584