John Darley

Mr. John G. Darley, age 90, beloved husband of the late Hazel Lee Newton Darley passed away on Sunday evening, December 28, 2025 at Community Hospice in Vidalia.

Born in the Rockledge Community of Laurens County, he was one of nine children born to the late Thomas B. Darley and Annie Lee Wynn Darley. At the age of ten, his father passed away and Mr. Darley felt the need to start working to support his mother and the other children of the family. He worked in tobacco, picked cotton and did whatever he could to help put food on the table for the family. His early years of working established a work ethic that lasted a lifetime.

In 1958 he married Hazel Lee Newton and they made their home in Rockledge. Mr. Darley worked for Graham Brothers Construction for a few years before deciding that he wanted to be responsible for himself and the quality of the end result of his efforts. For over sixty years Mr. Darley oversaw and was "hands on" with site development projects, pond building, land clearing, while all along maintaining his own equipment. He enjoyed farming, maintaining his herd of Charolais and Santa Gertrudis cattle, cutting and baling hay and staying busy. He worked until within the past year.

He and his wife, Hazel were longtime members of Pleasant Springs Baptist Church.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, who passed away in 2004, siblings, Walter Darley Sr., Marvin Darley, Annette Darley Soles, Lois Darley Reddington and Bertha Darley Lewis.

Mr. Darley leaves behind, his daughter, Sandy Darley, a sister, Johnny Fay Smith and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 o'clock p. m. on Wednesday, December 31, 2025 at his residence under the pecan trees where he sat for many hours pondering and preparing for the activities of the day. Pastor Curtis Warnock and Pastor Mike Mertz will be officiating.

Friends and acquaintances are welcomed to visit and reminisce from 1:00 o'clock p. m. until the hour of service.

Mr. Darley will be laid to rest beside his wife in the Pleasant Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be: David Warnock, Randall Warnock, Alvin Johnson, Justin Warnock, Blake Morgan, Alan Smith, Jason Wynn, Clint Thigpen, Bruce Mimbs and Danny Shepherd.

Please leave a condolence message, share a memory and sign the online guest register at www.sammonsfuneralhome.com

SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, Family Owned and Operated Since 1917.

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