Grace Darden Lankford, 90, of Suffolk, Va., passed away May 2, 2012. She was born in Isle of Wight County, the daughter of the late Daisy Murphy Darden and William Jackson Darden. She was predeceased by her husband, Clyde Winfield Lankford Jr., and her brother, Charles T. Darden. Grace was a graduate of James Madison College. She later went on to become a teacher and retired after 35 years. The last 20 years she spent teaching at Windsor High School. She was a member of Western Branch Baptist Church, the King’s Fork Woman’s Club, and Delta Kappa Gamma. She was an avid gardener and cook, known for her love of roses and her yeast rolls. She touched many lives through her family, her church, her profession and her community involvement.

Grace is survived by her son, C. Wayne Lankford, of Maryland, and wife, Deborah “Debbie” Hackney Lankford; granddaughter, Kristen Lankford Dietrich and husband, Andrew C. Dietrich; grandson, Ryan Wayne Lankford; and sister, Vivian Darden Rountree.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, May 5, 2012, at 1 p.m. at Western Branch Baptist Church with the Rev. Micah Voight officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may join the family for a time of visitation Friday night from 7 to 8 p.m. at Parr Funeral Home & Crematory and other times at the residence. Memorial donations may be made to the Western Branch Baptist Church at 6952 Old Myrtle Road, Suffolk, VA 23434. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.