A memorial service for Robert Morgan Darden of Cruger is planned for 1:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Cruger Baptist Church in Cruger, with the Rev. Al Different officiating. Earlier in the day, Mr. Darden’s ashes will be interred in the columbarium at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Greenwood in a private family service.
Bob passed away at his home of complications from non-alcoholic cirrhosis on Oct. 11, 2022, while under hospice care. He was 63.
Born on June 7, 1959, in Washington, D.C., to Frances Estes and Elwyn Jones Darden of Arlington, he graduated from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, with a Bachelor of Science degree in police science.
During summers as a child and teen, Bob spent as much summer vacation time as he could visiting his maternal grandparents, Etoile and Marion Estes, on their farm, Elmwood Plantation, in Cruger. After his father and his mother had passed, Bob felt an increasingly strong pull by both the farm and the small town where he had done his summertime growing up and all the neighbors felt like family. In 1992, his grandmother died, leaving Elmwood to Bob and his brother and sister, and in 1994, Bob decided to move into his grandmother’s home in Cruger, which she left to him, and maintain the family farm.
In 2000, to supplement his farm income, Bob started as a staff writer for The Greenwood Commonwealth, where he worked for more than 17 years, making lasting friendships with co-workers and newsmakers alike. He was hired by Life Help as a peer support specialist in 2020, a job he held until his passing.
Bob met his wife, Jo Alice Hughes, in 2004, when she joined the Commonwealth as lifestyles editor. The couple was married in 2007.
On Sept. 11, 2022, Bob officially joined the Cruger Baptist Church, whose founding members included his Estes grandparents.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents and his Estes grandparents, as well as his paternal grandparents, Josie Jones and George Leslie Darden of Hernando.
He is survived by his wife; his sister, Marion Darden Reed, of Arlington; his brother, Elwyn LaBauve Darden of Woodbridge, Virginia; nephews Jonathan Darden Reed and Michael Andrew Reed, both of Arlington; niece Rachel Margret Reed (Matt Baggette) of Alexandria, Virginia; niece Christine Darden Wayenberg (James) of Fort Belvoir, Virginia; niece Natalie Darden of North Hollywood, California; sister-in-law Mary Johnson Hawkins of Greenwood; and nieces Cary Hawkins New (Noah) and Keely Hawkins Harrison (Trent), all of Greenwood.
Also included as Bob’s survivors are members of his “chosen family”: lifelong friend Chris Purcell of Warrenton, Virginia, and his wife, Teresa; “Mama” Nell Snyder of Calhoun, Georgia; “sisters” Laine Flemming Hutton of Tchula and Sarah Flemming Upchurch of Greenwood; “cousin” Marilyn D’Isepo of Clinton; Brother Al Different of Cruger and his wife, Kim; Jonathan Grantham and his team at Life Help; Dorothy Robertson of Life Help; Tim Kalich of the Commonwealth and his wife, Betty Gail; Susie Davis of Cruger; Henry “Brother” Gordon of Kosciusko, formerly of Cruger; and farmer Jim Thomas of Egypt and Jackson and his wife, Martha.
Special thanks for the weeks of loving care and unflagging support go to the angels on Bob’s AccentCare Hospice team: Chris Accardy RN, Alissa Brown RN, Courtney Pate CNA, social worker Jackie Box and Chaplain Brother Howard Beam.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cruger Baptist Church, 14538 Main St., Cruger, MS 38924.