Darien Doughty George Pickens

She lived in Spartanburg, Charlotte, Lenoir and Anderson while growing up, and played violin in the Anderson, SC symphony. She attended Furman University, where she earned her bachelor’s and two masters’ degrees. She met the love of her life, Robert F. Pickens, and married him on July 28, 1956. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in July, 2021.

Darien taught second and third grade at Lake Forest Elementary for 30 years and was remembered fondly by generations of children. She was an active member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church from 1963 until her death, serving in a variety of roles, including serving as church historian and writing the Questers newsletter every week through last Sunday. She was a member of Alpha Delta Kappa educators’’ sorority and cherished her ADK sisters.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Rhett (Joanna) George, and an infant son, Charles Rhett Pickens. She is survived by her husband, Robert Pickens, two daughters and sons-in-law, Barbara (Ed) Foster of Winston-Salem, NC and Linda (Ty) Cobb of Greenville, SC; three grandchildren, Edward Foster of Lewisville, NC, Robert Foster of Raleigh, NC and Rebecca Cobb of Greenville, SC, and a nephew, Charles George (Dawn) of Wilmington, NC.

A funeral service for Darien will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, March 4, 2022 at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 7 Shannon Drive, Greenville, SC 29615, with visitation starting at 1:00 pm. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, SC 29609.

Memorials may be made to Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 7 Shannon Drive, Greenville, SC, 29615 or to Epworth Children’s Home, P.O. Box 50466, Columbia, SC 29250.