Phyllis Darden
Phyllis Joanne Daren was born on April 11, 1955 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
At a very young age Phyllis’ family relocated to Detroit, Michigan where she spent most of her childhood with parents, Jimmie and Carolyn Estell and siblings, Mark Baker and Jamie Baker. She matriculated at Sampson Elementary school, Weber Junior high school and graduated from Northwestern High School in 1973. Phyllis matriculated at the University of Michigan (U of M) in the fall of 1973 to study medicine. In 1975 she, subsequently, left the U of M to marry her high school sweetheart, Douglas Darden Sr., in April of 1975 and enlisted in the United States Army in May of 1975. She chose finance, as her career for the Army, and became a finance specialist; while in the military she received her Associates Degree in Finance. Phyllis spent most of her military career stationed in California, with her family, then husband, Douglas Darden Sr. and children; Nicole Ford, Cory D. Milam and Douglas Darden II. Phyllis honorably retired from the military as a Staff Sergeant in June of 1995. She subsequently relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada to begin a second career with the United States Postal Service (USPS), wherein she provided 15 years of exemplary service before becoming 100% disabled and unable to continue her Postal career; Phyllis reluctantly retired from the USPS at that time.
Phyllis especially enjoyed reading, keeping up with and discussing current events, and reminiscing about times past with family and friends. Phyllis accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior late in her life and began to make changes to her life to demonstrate her love for the Lord. She was a committed follower of the ministry of the Reverend Dr. Charles Stanley and a devout member of a weekly telephonic bible study under the direction of her brother, Minister Mark Baker of Arbor Heights Bible Church, in the Metropolitan Atlanta Area.
Phyllis is survived by her children, Nicole Ford (Preston Ford), Cory D. Milam, Douglas Darden II (Barbara Darden); grandchildren; Devin Gray, Darren Gray, Sydney Gray, Marshall Milam III, Mason Milam, Douglas Darden III; great grandchild, Devin Gray Jr; parents; Jimmie and Carolyn Estell; two siblings; Mark Baker (Marie Baker), Jamie Mack; two nephews, one niece and a host of other family members and friends (here and in Detroit) and a beloved military family.
Your journey on this earth has ended dear Phyllis; rest well with God!