Joyce Darnell

Joyce Arlene Darnell, the daughter of Grace and Raymond Hellums, was born in Butler County on May 29, 1940. She departed this life at home with her family at her side at the age of 82 on May 7, 2023.

Sept. 1, 1956, she married Willie Darnell, the love of her life, who survives. To this union three children were born. Joyce was a member of Kerns Chapel Church in Stringtown and was the secretary and Sunday school teacher for many years. She worked for Bob Sutton Realty for 20 years before retiring in 1998 and she was a Butler County Commissioner 1987-1988. Joyce has lived in the area for most of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Grace and Raymond Hellums.

She is survived by her children Wayne (Denise) Darnell of Poplar Bluff, Darryl (Kellie) Darnell of Poplar Bluff and Sheryl (Jay) Woolf of Pacific. She has four grandchildren, Joshua Darnell of Poplar Bluff, Melisa (Mike) Agee of Arkansas, William (Lavender) Darnell of Poplar Bluff and Sarah Woolf of Pacific. She has nine great-grandchildren: Colton Agee of Poplar Bluff, Makinsey, Riley, Parker and Landon Agee of Arkansas, Abigail, Wyatt and Olivia Darnell of Poplar Bluff and Savannah Hollowell of Poplar Bluff.

She is also survived by one sister, Carolyn Loury of Poplar Bluff; and four brothers, Ron Hellums of Kentucky, Don Hellums, Stanley Hellums and John Casey of Poplar Bluff and she truly loved her two adoptive brothers, Ted Darnell and George Darnell. She also has several nieces and nephews, and she is very close with her sisters-in-law.

Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Kerns Chapel Church in Stringtown, Missouri. Funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. at Kerns Chapel Church with the Rev. Moses Tipton presiding. Interment will follow in the Kerns Chapel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers I would like all donations to be made to Kerns Chapel Cemetery Fund.

We would like to thank all the Crown Hospice Group for their services and being so kind to the entire family.