Darlene Jaine Malone

Darlene Jaine Malone, (Dusty) was born on February 21, 1950.  After years of battling multiple illnesses, Darlene peacefully passed in her sleep Sunday morning January 31, 2021.

Darlene was a God-fearing woman who loved serving HIM through her church and community. Most recently, she was helping with the elderly and was part of the Central Baptist Church soup kitchen staff.  She was a graduate of South High School, class of 1968. While in high school she played basketball and was a Harmonette. Darlene was a member of the mixed ensemble and glee choirs. She was a library assistant and part of the Spanish club.

Darlene was well-spoken and confident. Upon entering a room, you knew she had authority. Our mother had a presence. Darlene was an identical twin, born two minutes after Starlene. According to Aunt Dimples, our grandmother frequently could not tell the twins apart. Auntie said she had no issues picking out their differences.

She had many ways.  One trick would be to have the girls face a wall and she would look for the birthmark on Aunt Star’s leg.  As they got older, she could tell by simply looking at their face. Darlene loved dogs, reading, and writing.

If she was not participating in bowling, tennis, or golf, there was definite joy in her watching others play them. She absolutely adored the Peanuts Gang with her favorite member being Snoopy of which she has collected many items featuring him.
For years, our mother made yearly calendars with cloth sand markers. She would use stencils to personalize every calendar with the names of everyone in that house. Those colanders seemed to be a rite of passage. There was no set age to receive one, but it was like once you did…you officially were an adult. No doubt her children, nieces, and nephews still have one hanging in their current homes, even though she hadn’t made any recently.

Jainel and Justin will mostly miss listening to cassette tapes of Stevie Wonder and Minnie Ripperton with their mother along with her humor.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Carrie Beatrice Miller (Bea), father, Huce Beecher Sr.; brother Mark Anthony Bufford (Tony); twin sister, Starlene Jean Browne-Street (Star).
Darlene is survived by her oldest sister, Delores Katherine Gist Carter (Dimples); children, Jainel Katherine Juallisa Terry; son, Charles Justin Malone-Lidge; grandchildren, Jazmen ElJaine Malone (DeAngelia), Timothy Jordan Marquez Terry, and Thomas Charles Jaasan Terry; great-grandchildren, ShiAyla, Sophia and Luna along with nieces, nephews, godchildren, church family, and friends.