JOE DARNELL

and Kimberly Williams; siblings: Gracen Briscoe-Williams and Quincy Williams III; her dog, Astro; a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and church members.

She is preceded in death by her cousin, Sheybeon WyattThompson, and best friend, Avery Juarez.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 3 p.m. at the Serenity Funeral home, 1101 E. Bannister Road, Kansas City, Mo. A family hour will be held from 2 to 3 p.m.

Private Disposition.

Joe Willie Darnell was born the third of four children to Henry and Bessie Darnell. He was born in Thornton, Texas on March 21, 1939.

He was baptized at an early age, before his teen years in Thornton, Texas at the Pilgrim’s Rest Baptist church. In the late 1950’s, he moved to Kansas City, Kas., where he joined the Calvary Missionary Baptist church. In the seventies, he began serving as a deacon, and remained active until his final days.

He was educated in Groesbeck, Texas from elementary through high school (Washington High). Between 1972 - 1973, he obtained certification in Architectural Drawing from the Kansas City, Mo., Business school. Darnell was a member of the Lambda Alpha Chapter of Phi Theta Pi Fraternity.

Over the years, 1970 through 2004, he worked at the Kansas

Ammunition Plant; the Hobart Corp. (Kansas); the Van Keppel Co.; and lastly, the Kansas City, Kas., Public School District 500 where he retired in 2004.

He was a member of the Black Angels motorcycle club in Kansas City, Kas. He enjoyed riding bikes until the 80’s. He enjoyed going fishing or having someone take his boat out on the lake any chance he could get. He also looked forward to his nephew, Don driving from Texas to Kansas to pick him up and take him right back to Texas to spend as much time as possible with his only surviving brother, Odis Darnell. Joe loved to plant and tend to his garden of fruits and vegetables every year in his backyard and eagerly shared his harvest with anyone who wanted or needed food. He was a kind, easy-going and thoughtful man and will be missed and remembered by the many lives he touched.

He married Alice Marshall and to that union three children were born. The marriage later was dissolved. Joe loved to stay busy so he kept everyone around him on high alert. It could be something as simple as having his sonin-law, Leroy take him to the church, taking a trip to Wal-Mart or having his granddaughter, Mykalah bring him food daily. He loved all of his family and he was a very devoted father and grandfather to his children and grandchildren. His love and devotion to his family never wavered. Needless to say, Joe had a special bond with his brother, Odis and his youngest daughter, Jamita, who lived close to him. Jamita stayed by his side, checked on him every day, took him to his medical appointments, ran his errands, making sure he was eating well and catered to his every need.

Darnell spent the last twenty-two days of his life in the St. Luke hospital, Kansas City, Mo., where he died on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, with his daughter Jamita, his son-in-law, Leroy, his granddaughter, Mykalah, and several other grandchildren at his bed-side. Until the end came, Joe was looked after very closely by his daughter, Jamita Cheffen her husband, Leroy and her children. All of his children kept in touch with him on a regular basis because they also had a very close relationship with him.

He was preceded in death by both parents, Henry and Bessie Darnell; two siblings, Laura Darnell and James Darnell; two of his children, Jose’ Darnell and Jacquelyn Darnell; wife, Barbara Darnell.

He leaves to mourn his death: five of his children, Jamita Darnell Cheffen (Leroy), of Kansas; Carla M. Bell, of Nebraska; Lisa Natalie, of Texas; LaVellia Bridges, of Maryland; Michael T. McCray, of Kansas; step-children, Dedra L. Poole, of Arkansas; James L. Poole, of Kansas; bonus daughter Rashanda Robinson, of Kansas; 18 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one brother, Rev. Odis

Darnell (Shelley) of Texas; one sister-inlaw, Evelyn Darnell of Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, family and friends.

Services will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 11:30 a.m., at the Calvary MBC, 901 Waverly Ave., Kansas City, Kas.

Visitation will begin at 9:30 until 11:30 a.m.

Interment, Highland Park cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Mrs. J. W. Jones Memorial chapel.

Services will be held on Friday, March 24, 2023, at 11 a.m., at the Faith Deliverance Family Worship Center Cogic, 3043 State Ave., Kansas City, Kas.

Visitation will be from 9 until 11 a.m.

Interment, Highland Park cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to the care of Mrs. J. W. Jones Memorial chapel.

private.