Betty-Ann Darby

Betty-Ann Darby

FLORENCE - Betty-Ann Darby, a daughter of the late William Henry Darby, Jr. and Mary Mouzon Darby, was born August 27, 1925 in Florence, South Carolina. At the time of her death, she was a resident of the Methodist Manor of the Pee Dee.

After graduating from Florence High School, Miss Darby attended the University of South Carolina where she majored in Music and was an honor graduate. She earned a Master of Arts Degree in Music from Columbia University in New York City.

Miss Darby began her teaching career in St. Matthews, South Carolina, but it was her 39 years of service in Florence School District 1 that impacted generations of students and helped shape the development of the arts in Florence. During her tenure with the school district, Miss Darby served as a teacher of elementary general music and junior and senior high school choral music. She served as the first Coordinator of Music for the District from 1973 until her retirement in 1987.

Miss Darby was baptized at St. Johns Church and was an active member until the time of her death. She served on the vestry and as president of the Episcopal Church Women. She was a member of the Marie Gregory Chapter of the Episcopal Church Women and of the choir, a lay reader, and a Sunday school teacher. From 1956-1961, she served as Organist and Choirmaster.

Miss Darby was also a member of the Junior League of Florence, Huguenot Society, Phi Beta Kappa, South Carolina Music Educators Association, Board of Directors of the Florence Little Theater, Board of Directors of the Florence Symphony Orchestra, Board of the Friends of the School of Music of the University of South Carolina, Heritage Literary Club, Plain Dirt Gardeners Club, and the Frank Hilton McLeod Legacy Society.

The Florence Area Arts Councils Jack Baker Award for Contribution to the Arts was presented to Miss Darby in 1987, and in 1992 she was elected to the South Carolina Music Educators Hall of Fame. She was named to the Episcopal Womens History Project 2007 as A Woman Who Has Made a Difference St. Johns Episcopal Church. In 2008, she was the first recipient of the South Carolina Music Educators Deborah Hoffman Mentoring Award in 2008.

Miss Darby is survived by a close-knit family of cousins, including: James Alexander Grimsley III (Josette), Anne Grimsley Cook (Wes), Reed Cook, David A. Grimsley (Agatha), Otis & Juniper Grimsley, Margaret G. Antelme (Charles), Xan & Valentine Antelme; Anne Lawson Grimsley Bander, Elizabeth Bander Hill (Joseph), Ari Lawson Bander; Will Grimsley (Jan), Ben Grimsley (Betsy), Will Grimsley, Lucas Grimsley; James Carl Young, Jr. (Elaine), William Darby Young, Addison Young, James Hamilton Young (Courtney), Lydia Young, Miller Young, Lucas Grimsley Young (Ashley), Gracie Young, Stephen Alexander Young; Anne Young Dubois, Mary Catherine Belding; Catherine Young Sligh (Richard), David Sligh (Kathryn), Burch Sligh, Darby Sligh; Mary Young McElveen (Jim), Ryan McElveen (Xuan); Alexander Grimsley Young (Anne), Lucy Young, Jack Young; John Lucas Young; George Stackley Tyson, Jr. (Anne Guerci), Eleanor Louise Tyson, Julia Lesesne Tyson, Margaret Lloyd Tyson, Adam Beckett Tyson (Elizabeth Street), Ian Tyson, Laurel Claire Tyson; Georgie-Anne Tyson Pruitt (Joseph), Heather Bobbett Drennan (Judson), Lucas Avery Drennan, Evelyn Lesesne Drennan, Stewart Lesesne Bobbett; Charles Lesesne Tyson; Alexis Tyson Permenter (H. Don), Sarah Permenter Hays (Joshua J.), Caleb Alexander Hays, Mason Casimir Hays, Christopher Brooks Permenter (Brooke Falk), Tyson Grey Permenter; Hannah Gilbert Skinner (Pinckney), Edward P Skinner, Emma G. Skinner; Emma K. Price (Gary); John I. Keels; Stewart I. Harvin, III (Maria); Jeannette L. Harvin; Leila H. Klessmann; and Ladson H. Kesler (George).

The funeral service for Miss Darby will be held at St. Johns Church, 252 S. Dargan Street, Florence, on Monday, December 2, 2013, at 2:00 p.m., with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery, directed by Waters-Powell Funeral Home (waterspowellfh.com).

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to one of the following: St. Johns Church, 252 S. Dargan St., Florence, SC 29506; The Betty-Ann Darby Music Scholarship, The USC School of Music, 813 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29208; or The Methodist Manor of the Pee Dee, Residents Assistance Fund, 2100 Twin Church Road, Florence, SC 29501.

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