Jo Alice “Jody” Darden, a former employee of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Radio & Television Commission, died Aug. 23. She was 95. “Jody” Darden was born in Rotan on Jan. 6, 1929, to George Edward Darden and Nora Iness Connelly Darden. She graduated from Hardin-Simmons University in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Not long after college, she and her lifelong friend Mabel Jo Wells served as civilian employees with the U.S. Army Air Corps, during which time they lived in London, England, for a year. Upon return to the United States, she began working for the Western Company, first in Midland and later in Fort Worth. Once she was hired by the SBC Radio & Television Commission, she served as an executive in the office of vice president of production. She later worked for Fort Worth oilman and philanthropist Howard Walsh as a director in his philanthropic endeavors. After retiring, she started a financial services business, assisting elderly individuals with their bills and financial concerns. She was a longtime member of Travis Avenue Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Later, when she and Mabel moved to North Richland Hills, they eventually became faithful members of North Fort Worth Baptist Church. She served on the pulpit committee and the personnel committee, and she often took on other leadership roles. The heart and soul of her service to North Fort Worth Baptist Church was the children’s ministry, where she and Mabel served in the nursery for as long as she was physically able. She also served on the board of the Christian Education Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. She was preceded in death by her sisters Alline Northrop and Lilian Pearston, brother Cecil Darden, niece Joyce Huffman, great-niece Jill Elaine Huffman Nettles, and her exceptional lifelong friend, Mabel Wells. She is survived by her three nieces, Mary Northrop Risely, Cheryl Darden Carlson and Janice Darden Jameson; and by four nephews, Alton Northrop, Bill Northrop, Daniel Northrop and Richard James Pearston. A memorial service is scheduled at 2 p.m. on Sept. 7 at North Fort Worth Baptist Church.
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