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FRANKLIN – On Thursday early noon, Nov. 21, 2024, the hand of God reached down and touched Eddie “Ed Lee” Lee Darden. He said, “Well done my good and faithful servant,” it is time to come home. You have fought a courageous battle with Agent Orange and Multiple Myeloma. He was born in Franklin, Virginia on Sept. 27, 1946 to Eddie and Annie Darden. He attended Hayden High School. He was drafted into the United States Army and six months later he was deployed to Vietnam.

As a youth, he professed his love for Christ and joined White Oak Spring Missionary Baptist Church. He was a faithful and dedicated member until his health started to decline. But he kept his unwavering faith in God through all the high and lows of his illness and never complained.

His work experience throughout the years included Smithfield Packing Company, St. Regis, Capron Correctional Center and later retirement from Carroll’s Food in Waverly, Virginia.

Ed loved his blue truck. He was always outside wiping and shining his truck while listening to his music. His main hobby was riding out to Windsor to buy his lottery tickets from the local convenience stores. He enjoyed meeting at the Hardees in Franklin to have breakfast and “shoot the breeze” with his buddies. Ed was a die heart Dallas Cowboy fan. He was very passionate about watching the CNN Channel while sitting in his recliner.

Eddie was preceded in death by his parents, his brother James Darden and sister, Jennie Warren. He leaves to cherish his memory and legacy of faith and love to his devoted partner, Julia Liggins; three children, sons, Kevin Williams of Dinwiddie, Virginia and Eric Darden of Chesterfield, Virginia; one daughter, Renatta Darden of Dinwiddie, Virginia and two daughters in love, Kayla Graham of Suffolk, Virginia and Michelle Graham of Houston, Texas; a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

A public viewing will be held at the funeral home on Wednesday, Nov. 27 from 3 – 7 p.m. A homegoing celebration will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 29 at White Oak Spring Baptist Church, 26125 Delaware Road, Franklin, with the pastor, Rev. Justin J. Berry delivering the eulogy. The committal and benediction will follow in Picot Cemetery in Carrsville, Virginia. Service provided by the professional and caring staff of Wm. M. Johnson & Sons Funeral Home Inc., 224 South Main Street in Franklin. Please share your condolences with the family at wmjohnsonandsons.com