MERIDIAN —



    Services for Malcolm Allen Darnell Sr. will be held today, at 11 a.m., at Webb Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Wayne Edwards, Rev. Keith Grubbs, and Rev. Bill Webb officiating. Burial will be in Hopewell Cemetery with James F. Webb Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

    Mr. Darnell, 73, of Meridian, passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2013, at his home. He served in the U.S. Air Force and after leaving the military began working for the railroad and spent the next 41 years in management at the Meridian and Bigbee Railroad and the Jefferson Warrior in Birmingham, Ala. before retiring in 2001. After retiring from the railroad he worked several more years at Tedder Door and Window until his health deteriorated and he was unable to continue. He loved the railroad and all the people he worked with and enjoyed the monthly lunch get together with his fellow retirees until health issues prevented his attending. He was also one of the pioneer members of the Parkinson’s support group in Meridian but again his participation was limited because of his illness. He was a member of Midway Baptist Church and served many years as Discipleship Training Director and as a Sunday School Teacher. He loved the Lord and was a humble servant for as long as he was able. He was saved at an early age and continued to provide a Christian witness for his family and everyone he met as long as he lived.

    Survivors include his wife, Margaret “Bunny” Darnell; his children: Allen Darnell (Melinda), Courtney Hatcher (Andy), Angel Copeland (David), and Tad Campbell (Laura); grandchildren: Lindsey Followell (Kyle), Bethany Mercer, Haley Mercer (fiancé-Daniel Moulds), Caleb Mercer, Joshua Campbell, AnnaLaura Campbell, Emily Darnell, Jaxon Hatcher, Wyatt Hatcher, Ashley Buri, and Morgan Jackson; sisters: Kathye Howard (Tommy) and Jean Wilkerson Hart; brother-in-laws: Barry Bratton (Lynne), Butch Bratton (Carolyn), and Al Bratton; nephews: T.J. Howard, Steve Wilkerson, and Bobby Bratton; niece, Stephanie Hatcher; and, several great-nephews, great-nieces, cousins and friends.

    He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Evelyn Darnell; oldest daughter, Kim Jackson; father-in-law, Alton Bratton Sr.; mother-in-law, Marian Bratton; and a special nephew, Ben Bratton.

    Pallbearers will be Barry Bratton, Butch Bratton, Tommy Howard, John Paul Darnell, Charles Higginbotham, Dale Nichols, Danny Ray Miles, Charles Hutcheson, Davy Jones, Bill Jones, and Flint Tedder.

    Honorary pallbearers are members of Rod Ezelle’s Sunday School Class at Midway Baptist Church.

    Donations may be made to the Midway Baptist Church Benevolence Fund, Anderson Cancer Center Benevolence Fund, or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

    Family and friends may sign the online memorial, leave a personal note for the family or order flowers at jamesfwebb.com.