John E. Darby, 95, passed away Thursday, Aug. 12, 2009, after a long and fruitful life on this earth.

John moved to "The Beach" to be with his son, Bill, and his family in 2001. Although he physically moved to Ormond Beach, Fla., his heart was still in Tennessee.

John was born in Gaffney on May 3, 1914, to the late William Alexander "Will" Darby and Emma Mae Browning Darby. John was offered a position in Columbia, Tenn., with a natural gas company. It was there that John met the former Selma Holley and they became inseparable. John and Selma married on Sept. 5, 1938. To his last days, John declared these times as some of the best in his life. John and Selma were married for 60 years and only upon the death of Selma on Aug. 13, 1998, were they apart.

John later worked at Southland Novelty Company until he moved into the retail clothing business at W.W. Evans & Company. John was a member of the Columbia Lions Club and was a 50- year member of the Grand Masonic Lodge No. 31 in Columbia, Tenn. John also enjoyed serving as a volunteer for the Maury County Hospital Auxiliary. He was a member of West End Baptist Church in Columbia, Tenn., and later First Baptist Church of Daytona Beach, Fla.

John is survived by his son, Bill Darby and his wife, Becky, of Ormond Beach, Fla.; granddaughters, Whitney Kalna (Terry Jr.) of Ormond Beach and Lauren Feldeisen (David) of Smithville, N.J. John's great-granddaughter is Caitlyn Avery Kalna, also of Ormond Beach. Survivors also include a sister, Nettie Darby Davis, and a brother, Howard Darby, both of Gaffney.

Services were conducted Monday, Aug. 17, at noon at Oakes & Nichols with the Rev. Rick Elsey, minister of West End Baptist Church, Columbia, Tenn., officiating. Burial was in Polk Memorial Gardens. Visitation was held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the hour of the service.

The family suggests memorials in John's memory be made to the First Baptist Church, "To Prepare the Way" Fund, 118 N. Palmetto Ave., Daytona Beach, FL 32114. Notes of sympathy may be sent to www.oakesandnichols. com.