08/18/14 — JEAN B. DARDEN

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JEAN B. DARDEN

May 31, 1934-Aug. 17, 2014

Mrs. Jean Barfield Darden, Thunder Swamp community west of Mount Olive, passed from this life into the presence of her Lord and savior in the early hours of Sunday morning, Aug. 17, 2014, while at home. She was 80 years of age.

Mrs. Darden, the only child of the late Blanche Martin Barfield and Henry M. Barfield, was a longtime member of Thunder Swamp Pentecostal Holiness Church, where she had been quite active in all phases of church work, including that of being a Sunday school teacher and a member of the Woman's Ministries.

She had been a member of Mount Olive Lions Club Ladies Auxiliary.

Employed by Mount Olive Presbyterian Church as church secretary for 22 years prior to her retirement, she also served as bookkeeper for her husband's business, Merle's Tires, when it was in operation.

Surviving family includes her husband of nearly 61 years, Merle P. Darden of the home; three children, Gary Darden and his wife, Joni, and Jan Darden Savage and her husband, Mark, all of Mount Olive and James Owen Darden of the home; four grandchildren, Lesli Darden, Lauren Darden, Katie Savage and her fiancé, Andrew Vann, and Jared Savage of Mount Olive; a great-grandson, Tyler Scott Odom of Mount Olive; and a special uncle, who was more like a brother, S. J. Martin and his wife, Doris, of Mount Olive.

Mrs. Darden lived a good Christian life, and that life will be remembered in a service to be Tuesday, Aug. 19, at 7 p.m. at Thunder Swamp Church, with visitation to immediately follow. Interment will be Wednesday, Aug. 20, at 10 a.m. at Martin-Price Cemetery. Pastor J. Frederick Dixon and pastor Vance Harrell will be conducting the services. Friends are also being received at the residence.

Flowers are welcome or memorial gifts are suggested to be made to Thunder Swamp Church, c/o Clark Harrell, 463 Harrell Hill Road, Mount Olive, N.C., 28365.

The Darden family wishes to acknowledge her caregivers, Judy Pearsall, Cynthia Barnes and Kendall Boose, and the Carolina East Home Care and Hospice team for their expert level of caring, love, and support shown to their loved one and family.

A Tyndall service.

(Pd)

Published in Obituaries on August 18, 2014 1:48 PM