Darlene Pope During, 74, of Fitzgerald, Georgia, died Monday, October 2, 2023, at her residence.
Funeral services will be held 11 AM, Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Westside Baptist Church in Fitzgerald, Georgia, with Kelly Pope, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery, Fitzgerald. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Friday evening at the funeral home in Fitzgerald.
Mrs. During was born March 12, 1949, in Fitzgerald, Georgia, to the late W.T. & Mary Riddle Pope. In high school, she ran track and played several sports. She worked as an operator for the telephone company and also worked at Badcock. She ran the kitchen for Big Dave’s Game Room and was known to everyone as Mama D. Mrs. During worked with the Christian Kitchen and started a support group for the wives of Desert Storm veterans. She was a member of the Jaycettes and helped raise money for Muscular Dystrophy. She was an active member of Westside Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school, Discipleship Training, and Vacation Bible School.
She is survived by her two sons: Donald During, Jr. & Amy of Fitzgerald and Rev. David During & Angela of Valdosta; a daughter, Leslie During Stone & Wayne of Tifton; grandchildren: Chelsea & Dalton Dowling, Abigail Sumner, Emily During, Bryanna Sumner, Jessee Stone, and Glaven Stone; great-grandchildren: Blair Miller, Noah Dowling, Blaise Miller, and Braelyn Miller; and siblings: Nathan Pope & Judy of Warner Robins, Kelly Pope & JoAnn of Warner Robins, Linda Pope of Fitzgerald, Jeanette Pope of Fitzgerald, Terry Pope, Sr. of Fitzgerald, and Marty “Lamar” Pope & Cindy of Fitzgerald; and a sister-in-law, Della Pope of Warner Robins. Many nieces and nephews also survive along with many members of the Pope and During families. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Donald L. During, Sr.; an infant sister, Rosemary Pope; and two brothers: Tommy Pope and Allen “Buzz” Pope, Sr.
The During family would like to show appreciation to Jennifer Pope and Cierra Adams for the loving and attentive care shown to their Mom the past six months. “Thank You for being the miracle we didn’t know we needed until we needed it.”
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.