By Bobby Flash Melton
Many friends and colleagues are remembering longtime Benton County attorney Ron Darby, who passed away earlier this month. During his career, Darby served several years as municipal judge for both the City of Camden and Town of Big Sandy. He also served as Benton County General Sessions Judge from 2006-2008.
Darby, 67, died on Aug. 4 at Maury Regional Hospital in Columbia following an extended illness. Services for Darby were held on Aug. 7 at Punk Funeral Home in Camden with Steve Whitworth officiating. Burial followed at Benton Memory Gardens.
An attorney in Camden for nearly 40 years, Darby was born in Manchester on Nov. 18, 1954. He graduated from CHS in 1972 and earned a bachelor’s degree from UTM in 1976. He enrolled in law school at Memphis State University, where he completed his JD degree in 1979.
Upon passage of the Tennessee State Bar exam in 1979, Darby began his law career in Camden. First he worked in the office of attorney Clyde Watson. A few years later he opened his own practice in a small building on South Forrest Avenue next door to the former Halley’s Restaurant. Darby eventually moved to 127 South Forrest Avenue, where he remained until he closed his firm in 2019.
Retired 24th Judicial District Public Defender Guy Wilkinson, who now resides in Florida, related that he was sad to learn of Darby’s passing.
“I was always able to work well with Ron when we were on opposite sides in the courtroom. There was never any animosity when we had cases against other. He always provided his clients with outstanding legal representation,” Wilkinson said. “He was a good lawyer and a wonderful friend. My sympathy and condolences go out to his family.”
Several people shared condolences on the Plunk Funeral Home tribute page. Jason Tippitt posted, “I knew Ron since I was in junior high in the 1980’s when he let the computer club use the back room of his office for meetings, without any charge as far as I know. Later on he gave me some legal advice by phone and never billed me for it. He was a good man with a great sense of humor judging from the times we talked in my adult years. My condolences to Ron’s family.”
Throughout his life, Darby worked with many charitable groups and organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, senior citizens programs, and his favorite, the Boy Scouts of America. As a Boy Scout himself, he earned numerous merit badges and awards including the Eagle Scout Award, the highest honor in scouting. Darby attended many regional and national events as a scout and scout leader, even attending an International Boy Scout event in Japan during the 1970’s.
Darby led many fundraising drives for the West Tennessee Area Council of Boy Scouts headquartered in Jackson. During the 1990’s the Council awarded him the Silver Beaver Award, a council-level distinguished service award given to adult leaders who have made an impact on the lives of youth. It is only given to individuals who implement the scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service.
Former Camden resident Warren Puckett, now of Hartshorne, Okla., went through a youth scouting program with Darby. He wrote on the Plunk Tribute Page about some fun scouting adventures they had together in places like Camp Mack Morris, Pilot Knob, the Buffalo River, and the Great Smoky Mountains.
“Sometimes we faced challenges as Scouts, but we managed to get through them and survive,” he noted. Concerning the Smoky Mountain trip, Puckett wrote, “We hiked to the top of Mount LeConte and Ron and I were chased by a mad mama bear when scared her cubs up a tree going to get water for our canteens.”
Puckett went on to say that on another scout trip to Pilot Knob, “We did a 50-mile hike through the woods and followed the trails of Civil War troops wearing full 75-pound packs. I’m so sorry to hear of Ron’s passing as he was a great scout leader and friend. My prayers are with his family.”
In addition to scouting programs and projects, Darby also enjoyed outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. He was an avid fan of motorsports and for many years was a season ticket holder to NASCAR events at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Camden Police Chief George Smith said he worked with Darby many times over the years of his law enforcement career, whether it was with Darby in his role as a defense attorney, General Sessions Judge, Camden City Judge, or a good friend.
“Ron was a good man who helped a lot of people in the 30-plus years I knew him. He was always fair-minded. He could joke around with you sometimes, but when it came time to get serious about a matter, he was all business,” Smith said. “I thought the world of Ron and will miss him. I know a lot of people will.”
