Iris M. Darden

Published 11:10 am Thursday, August 27, 2015

BRANCHVILLE — Iris Lanneau Martin Darden, 96, passed away on Aug. 24, 2015, at the East Pavilion in Franklin.

Iris M. Darden

Mrs. Darden was born on Aug. 7, 1919, in Conway, North Carolina. She was a daughter of the late George Neil Martin and Maggie Sue Baugham Martin, and was predeceased by her husband, John Tyler Darden Sr, who passed away on May 27, 1987. Mrs. Darden was also predeceased by a brother, Russell Martin, and three sisters, Ruth, Nell and Barbara.

Mrs. Darden had been a member of the Branchville Baptist Church, a former Branchville town councilwoman, a former president of the Tarrara Woman’s Club and a past member of the Southampton County Litter Control Council.

Left to cherish her memory are her six children, Lanneau Miller-Collin of San Clemente, California; Rebecca D. Breeding (Sunny) of Slidell, Louisiana; John T. Darden Jr (Jane) of Boykins; Jane D. Stephenson (John) of Wakefield; Cynthia D. Riedel (Dick) of Courtland; and Vivian D. Fields (Peter) of Roanoke; 15 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren.

The celebration of Mrs. Darden’s life will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8, in Wright Funeral Home, Franklin, with the Rev. Darwin Edwards officiating. The reception will follow the service at Franklin Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.

In memory of Mrs. Darden’s love of reading, please give a book to a child or make a donation to your local library. “I’ve never been bored because I always have a book to read.”

www.wrightfuneralhome.org.