Darles Brown

Darles Faye Hunt Davenport Brown, 79, died Oct. 3, 2023 at her daughter’s home in Camden.

Visitation will take place from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Murphy Funeral Home. A private graveside service and burial will follow at Eastside Cemetery.

Born in Martin on Jan. 31, 1944, to the late Sam and Emma Hunt, Darles was the youngest child of five siblings, each of whom preceded her in death. She had two brothers: Sam Jr. (Red) and Fred Hunt; and two sisters: Bobbie Lou Hunt and Louise Gallimore. The five remained close throughout their lifetimes and lived together as adults — at first to take care of their mother, and then to take care of each other, with the burden of final care ultimately falling to Darles. They were family, though, and she took comfort from being there for them all.

In her own personal life, Darles managed an agreeable relationship with her former husbands. Her honesty and care in handling those relationships was appreciated by both her children. 

As a person, Darles was outgoing, warm and had a strong sense of humor. She seemed to make friends easily and naturally; but more, she kept those friendships, despite the ease of their making. She truly loved people and was much loved in return.

Darles worked for years at Martin Manufacturing along with many of her friends and family. She enjoyed the people there, and missed them when her disability forced her to retire. She kept in touch with as many as she could over the years.

Darles found more friends in the retirement community and took advantage of the senior citizen’s center to socialize. She loved playing dominoes, rook and rummy, and when her disability worsened, was very sad to not be able to go there anymore. Still, many of her friends from the center visited her, called and sent cards and letters, which always brightened her day. 

Her family had always been the primary focus of her life, and Darles adored her children, their spouses and her grandchildren. She also had many nieces, nephews and cousins that she had always been close with. When they had children, Darles grew as close to them as she could, although her worsening COPD made it impossible to travel and do the things she loved. 

Darles lived nearly her entire life in Martin, staying in the same house for nearly fifty years, and being proudly independent. She waited as long as possible before agreeing that she needed to live with someone for her own sake. When she finally moved to Camden in August 2023 to stay with family, she had very little time left, but she shared that time as best she could, using her phone to keep in touch until even that was beyond her. 

In short, her friends and family found Darles to be a remarkably strong, loving and giving person, and the world is a little darker for her passing, after the brightness of her life.