Courtland – John Robert Darden, 71, died September 2, 2008. He was born in Isle of Wight County, a son of the late John Moses and Sallie Dilday Darden. John was predeceased by his wife, Virginia Galtress Darden, half-brothers, Joseph and Irwin Darden, half-sisters, Elizabeth Daughtrey and Margaret Carroll, step-sister, Audrey Wright, and step-brother, Morris Russell. A U. S. Air Force veteran, he was owner of Courtland BP and Wrecker Service for over 31 years, charter member of Courtland Rescue Squad, and an honorary member of Manry Hunt Club and Courtland Fire Department. John was a member of Nansemond River Baptist Church in Suffolk.
Left to cherish his memory are three daughters, Sheri D. Watson (Jack), of Courtland, Teresa D. Villorente (Roger), of Smithfield, and Kathy D. Williams (Guy), of Dublin, GA; three sisters, Alice D. May (Adrian), of Scotland Neck, NC, Faye D. Griffin (John), of Daytona Beach, FL, and Jeanette D. Bussell (Dave), of Jarratt; one brother, Jethro Lee Darden (Lucy), of Carrsville; eleven grandchildren, Jessica and Wesley Watson, Jonathan McClelland (Mollie), Elizabeth McClelland, Abigail, Matthew, Samuel, and Rachel Villorente, Jennifer Graham, Tabitha and Melissa Williams; two great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and a special companion, Susan Judkins.
A funeral will be conducted Friday at 10 am in the chapel of Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. Randy Green officiating. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Courtland. The family will receive friends Thursday from 7 to 8:30 pm at the funeral home and at other times at the home of Sheri and Jack Watson, 26505 East Nottoway Drive, Courtland. Memorials be made to The Diabetes Association, P. O. Box, 1132, Fairfax, Va. 22038, or Courtland Volunteer Fire Department, 23067 Main Street, Courtland, Va. 23837, or Partners Among Cats and Canines, P. O. Box 1133, Franklin, Va. 23851. www.wrightfuneralhome.org