Nansemond-Isle of Wight County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Darden, Novella S. Darden, 1932 

************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm
************************************************

FORMER SCHOOL HEAD HERE DIES

Mrs. Novella S. Darden, 76, Founder of Old West End Seminary and 
  Teacher In Suffolk College Dies At Norfolk. 

  Mrs. Novella S. Darden, widow of Robert Darden and an educator of note 
during the years 1880 to 1910, died this morning at the age of 76 at the 
home of her son-in-law, Edgar M. Darden, at Norfolk. 

  Mrs. Darden lived in Suffolk for many years and will be brought here for 
burial in Cedar Hill cemetery Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. 

  A woman of unusual talents, she was best known as an educator and 
accomplished musician.  As a young college graduate, she founded, jointly 
with her parents, the late William H. and Margaret E. Darden, a private 
school at their home in Isle of Wight county.  The school was so successful 
that in 1888 Miss Darden moved to Suffolk where she founded and served as 
principal of the West End Seminary, a finishing 
      (Continued on page 5) 

Former School 
      (Continued from page one) 

school located on West Washington street where now stands the residence of 
Col. and Mrs. J.E. West.  The West End Seminary flourished for about ten 
years, after which Mrs. Darden, she had married Robert Darden- took a place 
on the faculty of old Suffolk College. 

  Mrs. Darden taught music to many of Suffolk’s most prominent women and was 
active in the work of the Methodist church. 

  Mrs. Darden is widely and prominently connected in this city and in 
Nansemond and Isle of Wight counties. 

  The funeral service Sunday afternoon will take place at the grave-side in 
Cedar Hill.

****************************************************************************** 

NOVELLA S. DARDEN DARDEN 

  Mrs. Novella S. Darden - Funeral services for Mrs. Darden, widow of John 
Robert Darden, whose death occurred Friday, were held at the grave in Cedar 
Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, yesterday afternoon at 3 o’clock with the Rev. H.P. 
Clarke, pastor of Monumental M.E. Church, of Portsmouth; the Rev. J.T. Allen, 
pastor of Suffolk M.E. Church; the Rev. W.W. Staley, pastor of the Suffolk 
Christian Church, and the Rev. H.P. Myers, pastor of Park Place M.E. Church, 
Norfolk, officiating.  There was a large attendance, and many floral 
offerings.  The casket was covered with a pall of Easter lilies, smilax and 
ferns.  During the services the choirs of the Oxford Street and the Main 
Street Methodist Churches sang "Will There Be Any Stars in My Crown." 

  Pallbearers were E.L. Joyner, N.W. Darden, E.B. Nelms, Poe Darden, Seward 
Darden, William Darden and Herbert Lawrence.


Novella S. (DARDEN; Mrs. "Jack" Jno.Rbt.) DARDEN, 
Isle of Wight Co. native, d. 10 Jun 1932, Norfolk, age 76, 
interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery (Block C, Lot 101*), Suffolk, 12 Jun 1932, 
"The Virginian-Pilot" (Norfolk, VA), June 13, 1932, p. 2; 
"Suffolk (VA) News-Herald," Vol. 10, No. 70, June 10, 1932, 
   p. 1, col. 3, & p. 5, col. 2 

*Her parents are buried in the same lot. 
   Cedar Hill list, an extension of the Southampton County 
   Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/cemeteries/cedar_d.txt 

She appears with her parents, in the 1880 Census - Newport Dist., 
   IoW.Co. - as a teacher, age 24. 

Her father's obit ("Virginian-Pilot," Jan. 14, 1899, p. 7) is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/d635w9ob.txt 

Her husband was a Confederate veteran.  Although a native of Isle of Wight 
   Co., he was omitted from the rosters in the county history.  A sketch of 
   his service is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/military/civilwar/cw_vets.txt 


Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by 
Mrs. Bruce Saunders (bs4403@verizon.net), 
and re-formatted by File Manager. 

file at: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/nansemond/obits/d635n2ob.txt