LOUISBURG - Martha Lou Murphy Darden, 79, of Louisburg, died Sunday afternoon.

Martha Lou Murphy Darden, "Lula" or "Lou" to friends and family, lived a wonderful life. She was born in Louisburg to Claude H. and Elizabeth M. Murphy on July 2, 1935. Growing up in the idyllic town of Louisburg, North Carolina, she was an accomplished artist and pianist. She married Franklin Edward Darden, in 1957, and graduated from East Carolina University in 1958. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Edward Darden, and daughter, Susan Darden.

A funeral service was held 2 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Strickland Funeral Home. The family received friends immediately following the service. Burial was in Oakwood Cemetery.

She is survived by her daughter, Joy Darden of Louisburg; son and daughter-in-law, Frank and Susan Darden of Pompano Beach, FL; grandchildren, Allison and Erik Widmann, and Weston Darden,

In lieu of flowers, her family encourages donations in memorium to the The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777.

Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home & Crematory, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.

Paid Obituary