Hunter Darden Obituary Hunter Darden, Jr. August 14, 1922 － December 14, 2022 Franklin － Hunter Darden, Jr., 100, passed away December 14, 2022 in his home with family by his side. Born and raised in Southampton County, he was a son of the late Hunter Darden, Sr. and Sallie Lankford Darden. He was also predeceased by his wife of 74 years, Jean Howell Darden; two sisters, Dorothy D. Cotton and Louise D. Vaughan; three brothers, Harvey Darden, Sr., Thomas I. Darden, and Charles B. Darden; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Mewborn; and a daughter-in-law, Kathy Darden. Hunter was a graduate of Franklin High School and a retired farmer who always had a love of the land and enjoyed his rural family life. He was a lifetime member of Sycamore Baptist Church where he served as a trustee for over 30 years as well as a deacon and Sunday school teacher and member of different committees. He was a member of Forks of the River Hunt Club. He served in the Army field artillery in Europe during World War II and later in the Virginia National Guard. Hunter was a charter member of the Forks of the River Ruritan Club and served a term as Lt. Governor of the Holland District. He served 25 years on the Board of Directors of Southampton Memorial Hospital and was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the former Bank of Franklin. He was a 75 plus year member and past master of the Franklin Masonic Lodge and 72 plus year life member of Khedive Shrine Temple of Norfolk. Hunter served two elections as President of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association and two times as President of the Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Association and a term on the board of the National Peanut Council. Left to cherish his memory is his daughter, Sharon Darden Kasper; two sons, Hunter Darden III and Richard E. "Ricky" Darden (Cindy); seven grandchildren, Daryl Edward Kasper, Kelle Jean Moore, Hunter Darden IV (Christi), Jerimy Mulder, Casey Mulder, Missi Hatfield (Rickey), and Kate Couch (Matt); ten great grandchildren, Ethan Dale Kasper, Riley Ann Kasper, Kara Tru Hatfield, Gage Hatfield, and Evie Couch, James, Cody, Sidney, Makinleigh, and Christopher. A Funeral Service will be held at 2PM on Saturday, December 17, 2022 in Wright Funeral Home with Rev. Tracey Pugh and Rev. Dr. Reginald Warren officiating. Burial will follow in Poplar Spring Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the funeral home and suggests that memorial donations be made to Sycamore Baptist Church. The family would like to thank Mr. Darden‚Äôs special caregiver, Elizabeth Del Vecchio and the Amedisys Hospice Team. Obituary published on Legacy.com by Wright Funeral Home and Crematory － Franklin on Dec. 15, 2022. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- See also: 1) https://www.wrightfuneralhome.org/obituary/hunter-darden-jr 2) https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/hunter-darden-obituary?id=38400801 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ## Narrative Summary of the Obituary Hunter Darden Jr., a 100-year-old farmer and community leader from Franklin, Virginia, passed away on 14 December 2022. He served in WWII, was a lifetime member of Sycamore Baptist Church, and held leadership roles in various organizations. ## Narrative Summary of Funeral Services A funeral service for Hunter Darden Jr. was held on 17 December 2022 in Wright Funeral Home. Burial followed in Poplar Spring Cemetery. Friends gathered one hour prior to the service. ## The Edited Obituary Hunter Darden, Jr. 14 August 1922 - 14 December 2022 Franklin - Hunter Darden, Jr., 100, passed away 14 December 2022 in his home with family by his side. Born and raised in Southampton County, he was a son of the late Hunter Darden, Sr. and Sallie Lankford Darden. He was also predeceased by his wife of 74 years, Jean Howell Darden; two sisters, Dorothy D. Cotton and Louise D. Vaughan; three brothers, Harvey Darden, Sr., Thomas I. Darden, and Charles B. Darden; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Mewborn; and a daughter-in-law, Kathy Darden. Hunter was a graduate of Franklin High School and a retired farmer who always had a love of the land and enjoyed his rural family life. He was a lifetime member of Sycamore Baptist Church where he served as a trustee for over 30 years as well as a deacon and Sunday school teacher and member of different committees. He was a member of Forks of the River Hunt Club. He served in the Army field artillery in Europe during World War II and later in the Virginia National Guard. Hunter was a charter member of the Forks of the River Ruritan Club and served a term as Lt. Governor of the Holland District. He served 25 years on the Board of Directors of Southampton Memorial Hospital and was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the former Bank of Franklin. He was a 75 plus year member and past master of the Franklin Masonic Lodge and 72 plus year life member of Khedive Shrine Temple of Norfolk. Hunter served two elections as President of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association and two times as President of the Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Association and a term on the board of the National Peanut Council. Left to cherish his memory is his daughter, Sharon Darden Kasper; two sons, Hunter Darden III and Richard E. "Ricky" Darden (Cindy); seven grandchildren, Daryl Edward Kasper, Kelle Jean Moore, Hunter Darden IV (Christi), Jerimy Mulder, Casey Mulder, Missi Hatfield (Rickey), and Kate Couch (Matt); ten great grandchildren, Ethan Dale Kasper, Riley Ann Kasper, Kara Tru Hatfield, Gage Hatfield, and Evie Couch, James, Cody, Sidney, Makinleigh, and Christopher. ## Vital Statistics Summary | Name | Hunter Darden, Jr. | |---------|--------------------------------------| | Age | 100 years | | Birth | 14 August 1922; Franklin, Virginia | | Death | 14 December 2022; Franklin, Virginia | ## Table of Relationships | Name | Relationship | Residence | |-------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------------------------| | Hunter Darden, Jr. | Decedent | Franklin, Virginia | | Jean Howell Darden | Spouse | -- | | Hunter Darden, Sr. | Parent | -- | | Sallie Lankford Darden | Parent | -- | | Sharon Darden Kasper | Child | -- | | Hunter Darden III | Child | -- | | Richard E. Ricky Darden | Child | -- | | Daryl Edward Kasper | Grandchild | -- | | Kelle Jean Moore | Grandchild | -- | | Hunter Darden IV | Grandchild | -- | | Jerimy Mulder | Grandchild | -- | | Casey Mulder | Grandchild | -- | | Missi Hatfield | Grandchild | -- | | Kate Couch | Grandchild | -- | | Dorothy D. Cotton | Sibling | -- | | Louise D. Vaughan | Sibling | -- | | Harvey Darden, Sr. | Sibling | -- | | Thomas I. Darden | Sibling | -- | | Charles B. Darden | Sibling | -- | | Phyllis Mewborn | Predeceased Sibling-in-law | -- | | Kathy Darden | Predeceased Daughter-in-law | -- | ## Other Relevant Information 1. Hunter Darden, Jr. was a graduate of Franklin High School. 2. He was a retired farmer who always had a love of the land and enjoyed his rural family life. 3. Hunter was a lifetime member of Sycamore Baptist Church where he served as a trustee for over 30 years as well as a deacon and Sunday school teacher and member of different committees. 4. He was a member of Forks of the River Hunt Club. 5. Hunter served in the Army field artillery in Europe during World War II and later in the Virginia National Guard. 6. He was a charter member of the Forks of the River Ruritan Club and served a term as Lt. Governor of the Holland District. 7. Hunter served 25 years on the Board of Directors of Southampton Memorial Hospital and was a founding member of the Board of Directors of the former Bank of Franklin. 8. He was a 75 plus year member and past master of the Franklin Masonic Lodge and 72 plus year life member of Khedive Shrine Temple of Norfolk. 9. Hunter served two elections as President of the Virginia Peanut Growers Association and two times as President of the Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Association and a term on the board of the National Peanut Council.