Darlene Cutright Tenney

Darlene Cutright Tenney, 86, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, passed from this life at her home on Monday, June 19, 2023. Born in Detroit, Michigan on June 21, 1936, Darlene grew up in West Virginia where she graduated from high school. She later lived in Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Texas, and Greeneville, Tennessee before moving to Jonesboro, AR two years ago.

Darlene held different employment positions through the years. She served as an administrative secretary in government, church and business operations. While living in Bogalusa, Louisiana, Darlene became the first female employee of the Bogalusa Post Office.  Darlene worked several years for the Mississippi State Employee Retirement System. She was instrumental in forming the first Missionary Parents Fellowship in 1995. This continues as an active Fellowship nationwide and ministers to hundreds of families.

Darlene was an active member of the churches she attended wherever she lived. Her involvements included choir, Sunday school teacher, youth leader, Women on Mission. In her later years, she was very active in the widows club. She was an avid reader, a member of Toastmasters and Red Hat Society. She also enjoyed sewing, gardening, traveling, oil and acrylic painting. She volunteered with the International Learning Center for missionaries , CASA and Hospice.

She was preceded in death by her parents: Oscar and Wilma Simon Cutright, her first husband, Billy Tenney, her second husband, Hillman Breland, a sister, Karen Bender and a grandson, Nathan Griffith.

Survivors include 3 daughters: Christle Griffith,  Claudia Brown and husband John, all of Jonesboro, AR, and Pamela Mitchell and husband Billy of Woodstock, Georgia; 1 son, David Tenney and wife Carina of Limestone, Tennessee; 2 sisters: Shirley Rowan of Beverly, West Virginia, and Rosemary Wilson of Slate, Michigan; 9 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at Highland Drive Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Arkansas on Saturday July 1st at 11:00 am. A second service and the internment of her ashes will be held at a later date in Buckhannon, WVA.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that consideration be given to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA  22116-7023.