Rev. Walter L. Darden, Sr., age 90, of West Point, GA, transitioned on May 16, 2025 at Kennestone Medical Center, Marietta, GA.

Funeral Services for Rev. Walter L. Darden, Sr., will be held on Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. EST in the sanctuary of the St. John Baptist Church, 820 North Cherry Drive, Lanett, AL with the Rev. Charles Trammell, Sr., Pastor, Rev. L. W. Booker, Eulogist.

Interment will follow in the St. John Cemetery, 2479 County Road 212, Lanett, AL 36863

Public viewing will be held on Friday, May 23, 2025 from 2:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m at the M. W. Lee Mortuary.

Reverend Walter L. Darden was born in Chambers County, Alabama on January 21, 1935 to the late Bob Henry and Session Bailey Darden. He was the eleventh of fifteen children and is survived by only one sibling, Emma Darden Hutson out of the fifteen. He entered into eternal rest on May 16, 2025 at Kennestone Medical Center in Marietta, Georgia.

He is a graduate of Lanier High School in Lanett, Alabama. He attended Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama, Twin State Extension of the American Baptist Theological Seminary, West Point, Georgia, and the Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, Georgia.

He joined the St. John Baptist Church at an early age under Rev. Wm. P. King. He worked faithfully in St. John until his transition. He was solemnly and publicly set apart and ordained to the work of the Gospel Ministry on November 11, 1973. He was licensed to preach the Gospel as he had the opportunity to exercise his gifts in the work of the ministry on April 8, 1973 by Rev. C. C. Cloud at the St. John Baptist Church. He pastored Greater Beulah Baptist Church in Columbus, Georgia for 15 years (November 1973 – October 1988). He then returned home to pastor the St. John Baptist Church from October 1988, serving over 25 years and retiring on September 30, 2012. He said he was retiring from pastoring, but not from God. He would always be a member of St. John continuing to do evangelistic work. He was conferred the honor of Pastor Emeritus in 2012.

He served many years as President of the Valley Ministers Conference; member of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance, member of the NAACP, former Boy Scout leader, Little League Softball Coach, the Sublime Prince of the Royal Serret of the 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a former member of the Sons of King Solomon Lodge No. 358, Columbus, Georgia. He has received many meritorious certificates over the years for his distinguished services and personal contributions to Masonic ideals and for his support of the Charity Endowment Fund. He was awarded a plaque for his contribution as a leader in the Black Community during Black History Celebration by the St. Benedict The Moor Catholic Church.

He was joined in Holy Matrimony to Katie Billingslea Darden who preceded him in death and to this union two sons were born, Walter, Jr. and Willard.

Reverend Darden was loved and will be missed by many. To cherish his memories, he leaves a loving wife, Catheryn Darden, West Point, GA; two devoted sons, Walter (Christine) Darden, Pensacola, FL and Willard Darden, Austell, GA; bonus children, Erma Robinson, Columbus, GA, Devorine (Leon) Scott, Smith Station, AL, James H. Walker, Jr., West Point, GA, Malachi T. (Maria) Walker, New Jersey, Dorene Walker (deceased), Cynthia (Thomas) Lewis, Columbus, GA; eight grandchildren,12 bonus grandchildren, one sister, Emma D. Hutson, Atlanta, GA, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral arrangements by M.W. Lee Mortuary.