Obituary of Darden W. Jones DARDEN W. JONES Virginian-Pilot, The (Norfolk, VA) - March 21, 2000 Darden W. Jones, D.D.S., a man of God, family, many friends and professional and civic accomplishments, died March 19, 2000, in Southampton Memorial Hospital after a nearly five-week valiant fight in intensive care following knee surgery. He was 94 years young. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Annie Glenn Jones of Franklin; two sons, Darden W. ``Watt'' Jones Jr. of Norfolk and Edgar R. ``Eddy'' Jones and his wife, Linda, of Williamsburg; a stepson, James A. ``Jim'' Nicholas Jr. of Flushing, N.Y.; stepdaughter, Glenda Nicholas Burke of Richmond; stepgrandsons, Geoffrey Burke, Ed Nicholas and Jay Nicholas; two stepgreat-granddaughters; a sister, Mary Rawles Stephenson of Suffolk; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was born in Nansemond County on Jan. 16, 1906, the eldest son of five brothers and three sisters, children of Brock and Selma Jones. After graduating from Holy Neck Elementary School and Holland High School, he attended Elon College where he received an A.B. degree in 1927. In 1931, he graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., with a degree in dental surgery. He returned to Franklin where he established a dental practice that continued for 45 years. He married Sara V. Rawlings of Capron in 1939 and became a community leader. Dr. Jones was a most faithful member of Franklin Congregational Christian Church for more than 67 years. He was past chairman of the board of deacons and board of trustees, member of the choir for over 50 years, chairman of the music committee and superintendent of Sunday school. He was active in the men's Bible class and men's fellowship and served in many other capacities with his church. He was a charter member, organizer and still active member with over 67 years of perfect attendance of the Franklin Lions Club, where he served as president on two occasions, Zone President, Melvin Jones Fellow, and recent organizer and developer of the Franklin Lions Club Community Center. He was a former member of the Southside Dental Society and the American Dental Society, receiving a 40-year membership award in 1973. Dr. Jones was elected to City Council in 1946 and served for 28 years; he served 17 years as mayor from 1957 to 1974. During his tenure, Franklin progressed from a town to a city with annexation in 1960. Notable accomplishments were the formation of a Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Berkley Urban Renewal project and downtown renewal project, construction of S.P. Morton Elementary School and Franklin High School, development of a comprehensive plan for city growth, zoning ordinance and subdivision ordinance. He instituted a year-round recreational program and assisted in the development of the Oak Street Community Center. He helped establish the Franklin Industrial Park, locating four new industries there, assisted with the construction of a City Health Center and establishment of Paul D. Camp Community College. He was selected as First Citizen of Franklin in 1973 for his humanitarian, civic and professional contributions to his community. Dr. Jones contributed to the further development of eastern Virginia through his efforts on the following boards: Member of the Board of Trustees of Elon Home for Children in Elon College, N.C., with a branch opened in Suffolk; past president of Elon College Alumni Association; past president of the Suffolk Chapter of Elon College Alumni and served on the Foundation Board of Elon College. He served on the first Board of Visitors of Old Dominion University, when it grew from Old Dominion College to a university. He was president for several years of the Hillcrest Nursing Home in Suffolk. He was presently serving on the Board of Directors of the Tidewater Automobile Association for over 30 years. He was a member of the Franklin/Southampton Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Cypress Cove Country Club and past treasurer of the club. Dr. Jones was active in the organization of the Bank of Franklin, now United Community Bank, and served as chairman of the Board for 17 years. He was especially proud to have maintained his homeplace at Holy Neck and farms in Capron which he loved. He also was instrumental as an active committee member in developing Southampton Agricultural and Forestry Museum in Courtland. Those who know him best knew him as a man for all seasons and all people. He gave of himself to others in so many ways; we'll all miss him! As he would have liked, donations may be made to the Franklin Congregational Christian Church, 412 N. High St., Franklin, VA, or to the Franklin Lions Building Fund, c/o Harry E. Spalding, D.D.S., Treasurer, P.O. Box 148, Franklin, VA 23851. Services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in Franklin Congregational Christian Church. Burial will be in Poplar Spring Cemetery. The family will receive friends today from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the residence at 716 West Second Ave., Franklin. Wright Funeral Home has charge of arrangements. Edition: FINAL Section: LOCAL Page: B6 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ––– Narrative Summary of the Obituary ––– Darden W. Jones, D.D.S., of Franklin, died 19 Mar 2000 at Southampton Memorial Hospital at age 94. He served as mayor of Franklin from 1957 to 1974 and was active in community, civic, and church life. Funeral services were held 22 Mar 2000 at Franklin Congregational Christian Church with burial in Poplar Spring Cemetery. ––– Transcript ––– DARDEN W. JONES Darden W. Jones, D.D.S., a man of God, family, many friends and professional and civic accomplishments, died 19 March 2000 in Southampton Memorial Hospital after a nearly five-week valiant fight in intensive care following knee surgery. He was 94 years young. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Annie Glenn Jones of Franklin; two sons, Darden W. "Watt" Jones Jr. of Norfolk and Edgar R. "Eddy" Jones and his wife, Linda, of Williamsburg; a stepson, James A. "Jim" Nicholas Jr. of Flushing, N.Y.; stepdaughter, Glenda Nicholas Burke of Richmond; stepgrandsons, Geoffrey Burke, Ed Nicholas and Jay Nicholas; two stepgreat-granddaughters; a sister, Mary Rawles Stephenson of Suffolk; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was born in Nansemond County on 16 January 1906, the eldest son of five brothers and three sisters, children of Brock and Selma Jones. After graduating from Holy Neck Elementary School and Holland High School, he attended Elon College where he received an A.B. degree in 1927. In 1931, he graduated from Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., with a degree in dental surgery. He returned to Franklin where he established a dental practice that continued for 45 years. He married Sara V. Rawlings of Capron in 1939 and became a community leader. Dr. Jones was a most faithful member of Franklin Congregational Christian Church for more than 67 years. He was past chairman of the board of deacons and board of trustees, member of the choir for over 50 years, chairman of the music committee and superintendent of Sunday school. He was active in the men's Bible class and men's fellowship and served in many other capacities with his church. He was a charter member, organizer and still active member with over 67 years of perfect attendance of the Franklin Lions Club, where he served as president on two occasions, Zone President, Melvin Jones Fellow, and recent organizer and developer of the Franklin Lions Club Community Center. He was a former member of the Southside Dental Society and the American Dental Society, receiving a 40-year membership award in 1973. Dr. Jones was elected to City Council in 1946 and served for 28 years; he served 17 years as mayor from 1957 to 1974. During his tenure, Franklin progressed from a town to a city with annexation in 1960. Notable accomplishments were the formation of a Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Berkley Urban Renewal project and downtown renewal project, construction of S.P. Morton Elementary School and Franklin High School, development of a comprehensive plan for city growth, zoning ordinance and subdivision ordinance. He instituted a year-round recreational program and assisted in the development of the Oak Street Community Center. He helped establish the Franklin Industrial Park, locating four new industries there, assisted with the construction of a City Health Center and establishment of Paul D. Camp Community College. He was selected as First Citizen of Franklin in 1973 for his humanitarian, civic and professional contributions to his community. Dr. Jones contributed to the further development of eastern Virginia through his efforts on the following boards: Member of the Board of Trustees of Elon Home for Children in Elon College, N.C., with a branch opened in Suffolk; past president of Elon College Alumni Association; past president of the Suffolk Chapter of Elon College Alumni and served on the Foundation Board of Elon College. He served on the first Board of Visitors of Old Dominion University, when it grew from Old Dominion College to a university. He was president for several years of the Hillcrest Nursing Home in Suffolk. He was presently serving on the Board of Directors of the Tidewater Automobile Association for over 30 years. He was a member of the Franklin/Southampton Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Cypress Cove Country Club and past treasurer of the club. Dr. Jones was active in the organization of the Bank of Franklin, now United Community Bank, and served as chairman of the Board for 17 years. He was especially proud to have maintained his homeplace at Holy Neck and farms in Capron which he loved. He also was instrumental as an active committee member in developing Southampton Agricultural and Forestry Museum in Courtland. Those who know him best knew him as a man for all seasons and all people. He gave of himself to others in so many ways; we'll all miss him! As he would have liked, donations may be made to the Franklin Congregational Christian Church, 412 N. High St., Franklin, VA, or to the Franklin Lions Building Fund, c/o Harry E. Spalding, D.D.S., Treasurer, P.O. Box 148, Franklin, VA 23851. Services were held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday [22 March 2000] in Franklin Congregational Christian Church. Burial was in Poplar Spring Cemetery. The family received friends Tuesday [21 March 2000] from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the residence at 716 West Second Ave., Franklin. Wright Funeral Home had charge of arrangements. ––– Vital Statistics ––– |----------------------------------------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Name | Darden W. Jones | | Age | 94 | | Birth | 16 January 1906; Nansemond County, Virginia | | Death | 19 March 2000; Southampton Memorial Hospital, Virginia | |----------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Table of Relationships ––– |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Name | Relationship | Residence | | Darden W. Jones | Decedent | Franklin, Virginia | | Annie Glenn Jones | Wife | Franklin, Virginia | | Darden W. "Watt" Jones Jr. | Son | Norfolk, Virginia | | Edgar R. "Eddy" Jones | Son | Williamsburg, Virginia | | Linda Jones | Daughter-in-law | Williamsburg, Virginia | | James A. "Jim" Nicholas Jr. | Stepson | Flushing, New York | | Glenda Nicholas Burke | Stepdaughter | Richmond, Virginia | | Geoffrey Burke | Stepgrandson | [Not specified] | | Ed Nicholas | Stepgrandson | [Not specified] | | Jay Nicholas | Stepgrandson | [Not specified] | | [Two stepgreat-granddaughters] | Stepgreat-granddaughters | [Not specified] | | Mary Rawles Stephenson | Sister | Suffolk, Virginia | | Brock Jones | Father | [Deceased; residence not specified] | | Selma Jones | Mother | [Deceased; residence not specified] | |-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| ––– Publication Details ––– |--------------------------------| | Field | Value | | Location | Norfolk, Virginia | | Name | The Virginian-Pilot | | Date | 21 March 2000 | | Edition | FINAL | | Section | LOCAL | | Page | B6 | |--------------------------------| ––– Other Relevant Information ––– • Dentist for 45 years in Franklin • Member of Franklin Congregational Christian Church for over 67 years • Former mayor of Franklin, served 1957–1974 • City council member for 28 years beginning in 1946 • Charter member and two-time president of the Franklin Lions Club • Organized the Franklin Lions Club Community Center • Received 40-year membership award from the American Dental Society in 1973 • Chairman of the board for Bank of Franklin (now United Community Bank) for 17 years • Past president of Elon College Alumni Association and Suffolk Chapter • Member of Old Dominion University Board of Visitors • President of Hillcrest Nursing Home in Suffolk • Board member of Tidewater Automobile Association for over 30 years • Member of Franklin/Southampton Chamber of Commerce • Past treasurer of Cypress Cove Country Club • Helped develop Southampton Agricultural and Forestry Museum in Courtland • Selected as First Citizen of Franklin in 1973 • Spouse's birth name was Annie Glenn [Contributed by Bruce Saunders, bs4403@verizon.net] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may have contributed to the creation of this text. 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