Peggy Joyce (Pitts) Darby

A proud 1960 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, Peggy's early career began as a legal secretary. After marrying and starting a family, she pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a nurse. She returned to school after her youngest child entered school, and in 1981, she earned her Associate of Science in Nursing degree from Troy State University in Montgomery, Alabama.

Peggy’s nursing career began at the V.A. Hospital in Montgomery, and later, after relocating to Birmingham, Alabama with her family, she dedicated nearly 30 years to caring for oncology patients. She considered this work a God-given ministry; one she cherished deeply throughout her tenure at Brookwood Hospital before retiring.

In her retirement, Peggy continued her ministry in a new form. She sent heartfelt cards to celebrate, encourage, and comfort those in need. She also devoted herself to prayer ministry, lifting others in prayer, whether they were people she knew personally, had just met, or had heard about. She found joy in making her signature “secret-recipe” banana bread for friends and family, and in creating beautiful needlepoint keepsakes for loved ones.

Peggy was preceded in death by her husband of 39 years, Thomas E. “Tommy” Darby, Sr., her eldest son, Thomas E. “Ted” Darby, Jr., and her parents. She is survived by her children, Herman Lee “Todd” Darby (Leigh Margaret), Timothy Everett “Tim” Darby, Peggy Elizabeth “Penne” Darby, Patricia Joyce “Patty” Darby Dennis (Jeffrey), and Ted’s widow, Leona; her ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; her sisters, Barbara Pitts Lindsey and Betty Pitts Gautney; and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Visitation will be held Thursday, December 5, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Leak Memory Chapel, 945 Lincoln Road, Montgomery, AL 36109, with a funeral service to follow at 1:00 p.m.

A private graveside service will take place afterwards. Serving as pallbearers will be Todd Darby, Tim Darby, Lee Darby, Andrew Darby, Jeff Dennis, Evan Dennis, George Pitts, and Andy Ellis.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Missions Fund at Hunter Street Baptist Church (www.hunterstreet.org) or to the WMU Foundation (www.wmufoundation.org).