By Merle Monahan

Special to the News-Herald

The first Relay for Life golf tournament in memory of former King’s Fork Middle School Principal E. Talmadge Darden has been set for Aug. 3 at the Suffolk Golf Course, 1227 Holland Road.

Sponsored by Team Darden of King’s Fork Middle School, the tournament will start at 1:30 p.m.

The entry fee of $75, or $300 for a team of four, includes greens fee, golf cart, range balls and dinner catered by Ricky and Roy’s. The registration deadline is Friday, July 27.

Darden, a renowned chef, musician and beloved principal, died of cancer on May 12, 2011. He was 54.

In an effort to fund cancer research, the school sold cookbooks featuring Darden’s recipes.

“Mr. Darden was a super person and everybody loved him,” said Team Captain Hope Bradshaw. “The entire school misses him.

“He was a no-nonsense leader,” Bradshaw said. “He believed in discipline, and the students respected him.”

Darden loved cooking and was always in charge of any dinner, reception or other event sponsored by the school, she said.

“He cooked and served,” Bradshaw said. “It didn’t matter to him — he just wanted it to be right.”

Participants in the tournament don’t have to know a lot about golf.

“We just want everybody to have fun, while helping out a good cause,” Bradshaw said.

For information, contact Robert Bradshaw at 287-6899 or Hope Bradshaw at 539-5027, or send an e-mail to hopbradshaw@spsk12.net.