Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Obituaries.....Darden, John B., 1930 

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JOHN BARHAM DARDEN 

DEATH OF J.B. DARDEN PROMINENT COUNTY CITIZEN AT NEWSOMS 

   John Barham Darden, prominent county citizen, died at his home in Newsoms 
Saturday, August 9, in the 65th year of his life.  Mr. Darden had been in 
failing health for about three years, but with that indomitable energy 
characteristic of the man had maintained an active interest in his business 
and in church, county and community affairs until the end.

   Mr. Darden was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Rufus E. Darden of this 
county and was born in Courtland November 25, 1866.  His boyhood days and 
young manhood were spent in Newsoms, and he was educated at the Virginia 
Polytechnic Institute.  He married Miss Georgie Little of Como, N.C., member 
of a well-known and prominent family in Eastern North Carolina, who survives 
him with three children; John B. Darden, Jr., of Newsoms, William L. Darden 
of Richmond and Miss Homoiselle Darden of Newsoms; by one grandchild, Joanne 
Darden of Richmond; two sisters, Mrs. J.H. Channing of Newsoms and Mrs. G.C. 
Picot of Como, N.C., and by a large family connection.

   From 1897 to 1904, Mr. Darden was a successful merchant in Branchville, 
this county, where he numbered a host of friends.  Returning to Newsoms in 
1904, he became associated with R. Howard in a general mercantile business 
known as the Darden-Howard Company, of which he was the active head until his 
death.  He was a useful and versatile citizen, serving with exceptional 
ability in every capacity.  A consistent member of the Newsoms Baptist Church 
for many years, he was a deacon of that organization and succeeded his father 
as superintendent of its Sunday school.  Notwithstanding his enfeebled 
condition within the last few months, he consented to act as chairman of the 
building committee of the New Baptist Church in Newsoms and gave much time and 
thought to the construction of that handsome edifice recently completed and 
occupied for worship.

   In civic affairs Mr. Darden served for a number of years as a member of the 
County School Board, the commodious new high school building at Newsoms being 
erected while he was a member of the school board.  He was also Chairman of 
the Newsoms District Democratic Committee for several years, and could always 
be counted upon to give his best efforts to all worthwhile movements of his 
town and county.

   Funeral services held from his home in Newsoms Monday afternoon at 3 
o’clock were attended by one of the largest crowds ever seen in Southampton 
on a similar occasion, with many friends attending from Norfolk, Richmond, 
Suffolk, North Carolina and all parts of his native county.  Rev. L.E. Dailey, 
pastor of the Newsoms Baptist Church, was assisted in the service by Dr. W.V. 
Savage of Churchland, a lifelong friend of Mr. Darden’s, Rev. R.D. Stephenson 
of Franklin, and Rev. E. Norfleet Gardner of Dunn, N.C., Rev. R.H. Marks of 
the Newsoms M.E. Church and Rev. Frank B. Handley of Boykins.

   Interment followed in the family plot in Newsoms Cemetery, the body bearers 
being; Hallett Picot, Harvey Picot, B.W. Sebrell, Jr., Rufus Darden, W.E. 
Griffin, Charles Barham, B.B. Rountree and Henry Worrell.  The honorary 
bearers were: E.P. Ferguson, Hugh Vincent, H.T. Miles, C.C. Bradshaw, P.S. 
Worrell, J.Q. Worrell, J.T. Story, J.B. Everett, R.N. Darden, H.E. Bailey, 
R. Howard and R.B. Story of Newsoms; John M. Britt of Boykins, A.H. Hargrove 
of Suffolk, J.B. Worrell, W.T. Taylor and R.A. Majette of Como; F.F. Jenkins, 
J.A. Williams, S.W. Rawls and W.O. Bristow of Franklin; W.G. Jarvis, R.E. 
Prince and J. Bowden Hundley of Norfolk; Prof. H.L. Duff of Ruckersville, 
L.L. Manry of Courtland, Dr. J.A. Grizzard of Drewryville and B. Frank Walton 
of Lawrenceville.


John Barham DARDEN, merchant, 
b. 25 Nov 1866, Courtland, d. 9 Aug 1930, at home, near Newsoms, 
interred in Hollywood Cemetery*, Newsoms, 
"Tidewater News" (Franklin, VA), Vol. 25, No. 45, Fri., Aug. 15, 1930, p. 1 

*Additional information: 

His parents are also buried there. 
   Southampton County Historical Society {SCHS} Cemetery Project, 
   Hollywood list (N-22&23): 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/cemeteries/hollywd.txt 

A photo of his gravestone - added by Natalie Padgett - is also posted with 
   Find a Grave Memorial #60363451. 

D.Cert. 20197 (Newsoms #23) 

His widow's obit ("Tidewater News," Feb. 25, 1963, I-7) is posted at: 
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/obits/d635g4ob.txt 

His father (1841 - 1911) was a Confederate veteran, having served as 2nd 
   Lieutenant in Co. D, 3rd VA Infantry. 


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/southampton/obits/d635j11o.txt