Jimma Lou Castor Darnell (1953-2023)
Jimma Lou Castor Darnell passed away on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 70 years old, in the presence of her loving family at Great Oaks Rehabilitation Center.
She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Amy Katheryn and John David Rains and Stephanie LeAnn and Collin Edward Birmingham, and her grandsons, Noah Wyatt Rains and David Thomas Rains.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Luther Darnell Jr., and her parents, Kathryn Stark Castor and James Harvey Castor.
Mrs. Darnell, Momma D, Momma, Jimma, Jimma Lou, however you knew her and loved her, she will always be remembered by the many who her life influenced. As a teacher in the Forrest City School District for 39 years, she also worked as a bus driver, cheerleading coach, mock trial coach, Beta Club sponsor and yearbook sponsor, among many other roles. Every student who had Mrs. Darnell as a teacher remembers her. Sometimes as an unstoppable force, but always a loving one.
Within the community, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Forrest City, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.
Jimma Darnell was a momma to so many of us and it felt like growing up with the biggest family because anywhere you went, someone knew Mrs. Darnell. She might not remember every name, but she knew something special about each student and was proud of every child who came into her care. Those who passed through Mrs. Darnell’s classroom were her students forever. Their successes were points of pride for her, and she spoke about each student as if they just left her classroom yesterday.
She was most proud of her daughters who took after her and became teachers as well. If you ever asked her about them, she would burst with happiness about all they have done. As they grew up, they became her best friends.
Her greatest love was her grandchildren. She spent every moment she could with them and saw them as the gifts they are. Those two boys were everything she ever wanted and she did her best to spoil them.
Her place is in heaven now, forever in a beautiful garden of flowers where she watches over all of her kids still.
The visitation for Mrs. Darnell will begin at 1 p.m., Friday, March 24, 2023, at Memorial Park Funeral Home in Memphis and continue until the service at 2 p.m., at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Forrest City Humane Society.