Alexandria L. Starks-Woods

Alexandria L. Starks, the eldest child and only daughter of Dwayne and Cartena (Delbridge) Starks, was born December 29, 1993, in Oxford, MS.

“Al,” as she was affectionately called by her mom or “Punkin,” as her dad would call her, was reared in a Christian home and accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized at Mount Zion M.B. Church in Memphis, TN. Along with her parents, she later moved her membership to New Sardis M.B. Church in Memphis where she sang in in the choir and attended bible study. After relocating to Oxford, Alexandria began fellowshipping with Philadelphia M.B. Church under the leadership of Dr. Alfred L. Hall, II. She truly loved praising and worshipping the Lord and hearing some good gospel music. When she was a child, her dad would always sing God Has Smiled on Me to her as she drifted away to sleep. When she became an adult, she loved to hear her “Big Daddy,” Chester, sing My Life Is in God’s Hands.

Her education journey started at Memphis City schools, and she graduated from Kirby High School in 2012. In high school, Alexandria excelled in academics and athletics and always kept her parents on the go. She was a member of the National Beta Club, Honor Society, cheerleader, softball, and volleyball teams. “Alex” furthered her education by enrolling in and graduating from Northwest Mississippi Community College with associate degree in medical Billing and Coding. Though she was proud of accomplishing this goal, Alex went on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Belhaven University.

Initially, she gained employment with a group home for kids with autism and then went on to work with special needs children at DeSoto Central Middle School. After leaving DeSoto Central, Alex was employed with the Lafayette County School District as Teacher’s Assistant. Over time, she found that she had a God given gift of working with children – and they were absolutely crazy about her and vice versa. She was blessed with the ability to diffuse some of the most intense situations, which gained her respect from her peers, colleagues, and students.

In October 2016, Alex experienced love as she never had before after giving birth to her first son, Ashton Dwayne. As with all that she done, Alex went over and beyond the “call of duty” of motherhood. In July 2021, she was united in matrimony to Justin Q. Woods, and again she excelled in her new role as a wife. Justin, Alex, and Ashton welcomed Jace Anthony to the world in January 2023 and her little family was complete. Her boys were her world, and everyone knew that. As her dad stated, she “would move mountains” for them.

Alex was very family oriented, and she loved attending family gatherings, spending time and talking with her mother or doing her makeup, dressing up and grabbing a bite to eat with her friends, and shopping. Although she was a social butterfly, she was also a homebody who loved curling up to watch a good movie.

On Monday, April 17, 2023, at Baptist Memorial Hospital – East in Memphis, TN, Alexandria Starks-Woods, peacefully placed her earthly life in God’s hands for eternal life with Him. Just as she loved to be, she was surrounded by her loving family.

Alex will be remembered as loving wife by her husband, doting and devoted mother by her sons, daddy’s girl by her dad, amazing daughter and friend by her mom, and protector by her brother. She was a loyal friend to those closest to her. Her silliness, goofiness, caring and humble spirit, and contagious laughter will forever be missed by all those that she touched.

Left to mourn her passing, yet cherish her memory are her husband, Justin Q. Woods of Oxford, MS; children, Ashton Dwayne and Jace Anthony both of Oxford, MS; parents, Dwayne and Cartena Starks of Olive Branch, MS; brother, Dylan Starks of Olive Branch, MS; grandparents, Charles and Louise Stevens, Chester and Sally Starks all of Oxford, MS; father and mother-in-law, Anthony and LaRhonda Woods of Oxford, MS, best friend, Eboni Norman of Southaven, MS; grandparents-in-law, Willie and Frances Carothers, a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, other relatives, DeSoto Central and Lafayette School District work families, and friends.

Alexandria was preceded in death by her grandfather, John Edward Delbridge.