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MURRELLS INLET John Waldon "Buzz" Darden, III, age 64 of Wachesaw Plantation, passed away Friday, April 16, 2010 at MUSC in Charleston. Mr. Darden was born December 15, 1945 in Conway, SC, a son of the late Hanna Ross Smith Darden and John Waldon Darden, Jr. Mr. Darden was a graduate of Conway High School, a 1969 graduate of the University of SC, a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity, and a certified gemologist and appraiser. After graduating from the Gemological Institute of America and the Holland School for Jewelers, among his many accomplishments, he was president of the SC Jewelers Association from 1975 â€“ 1977 and National Director with Jewelers of America from 1991 â€“ 1997. Mr. Darden was president of Darden Jewelers in Murrells Inlet, Georgetown, Myrtle Beach and Conway, which his father and mother established in 1940. He was also vice president of Darden Jewelers in Lancaster, SC. Mr. Darden was very civic oriented in his home town of Conway where he was a past commissioner of the Housing Authority, past director of the Conway Chamber of Commerce and many others. One of his greatest accomplishments he felt was his involvement in restoring the Town Clock of Conway. After moving to Murrells Inlet in 1993, he was chairman of the Mt. Gilead Tax Commission for many years. He later moved to Wachesaw Plantation and served on several committees. Working with the Rotary, he found great satisfaction in the CART Program (coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust) and served as district chairman. In March 2010 he was co-chairman for the Rotary Convention held in Myrtle Beach and was a Paul Harris Fellow recipient. Buzz was a member of Belin Memorial United Methodist Church, serving on the finance committee and recently was chairman of the staff pastor parish committee. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. Surviving are; his wife of 39 years, Susan Darden of Murrells Inlet, son, Stuart Darden and his wife Lori of Myrtle Beach, grandson, Tyler Christopher Darden, daughter, Elizabeth Darden of Murrells Inlet, sisters, Carolyn Darden Karn and her husband Marvin of Blenheim, SC and Doris Darden Gunsalus and her husband Martin of Clio, SC. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Tuesday, April 20, 2010 at Belin Memorial United Methodist Church with The Rev. Dr. B.Mike Alexander, Jr., Rev. Marty Nason and Rev. Harold Lewis officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 â€“ 8:00 P.M. Monday, April 19, 2010 at Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel. An online guestbook is available at www.goldfinchfuneralhome.com\t In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Belin Memorial UMC Land Fund, 4182 Hwy 17 Business, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 or The Rotary CART Fund, P.O Box 1916, Sumter, SC 29151. Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

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John Waldon Darden, III

April 16, 2010