Jerome Lenzy Darden was born August 1, 1967 and received his promotion to glory on October 29, 2020. He was 53 years old.
Jerome attended elementary and middle school at Washington D.C. public school system. He attended high school at Fork Union Military Academy, Fork Union, VA where he excelled and graduated with honors in 1984. He attended Agricultural and Technical State University where he was active in football, baseball and basketball. He majored in accounting and business and graduated in 1985.
Over the years, Jerome, who was quite the entrepreneur, started several businesses. He greatly enjoyed finding all of the necessary components to make a businesses successful and was talented in putting all of those pieces together like a puzzle. He was owner of Business Loan and Lending Group and acted as CEO as well as office manager. He also owned Mr. Roadside Assistance, a transportation and vehicle assistance business. Most recently, within a few month of his death, he started DTE Bus, a transportation service for the disabled, in Youngstown, Ohio. Before starting DTE Bus, he worked as a driver for Sifrin Transportation Service for four years and had perfect work attendance. Throughout his adult life Jerome had a very strong work ethic and demonstrated that having gainful employment was possible for anyone willing to put in the necessary work.
Jerome attended Randall Memorial Baptist Church and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at age 11. He had a very deep and personal connection with God. In fact, one of his best qualities was a God-given wisdom. He liked to share these "gold nuggets of wisdom" with anyone who would listen. He often said, "God blessed my grandfather Lenzy with wisdom. He passed it on to my dad Sam, and dad passed the blessing on to me."
Jerome was preceded in death by his mother, Teresa Rorie Darden; brothers Michael Rorie and Larry Allen Rorie; An aunt, Marguerite Speight; A mother figure and mentor Dr. Dorothy Eleanor Donnelly. Paternal grandparents, Ellen Lawrence Darden and Lenzy Oscar Darden of Nansemond County; Maternal grandparents, Cleve and Martha Rorie Dansby of Washington, D.C.
Jerome will always be dearly missed by his father, Samuel Darden; brother Larry Allen Rorie; Nephew, Michael Creighton, Jr.; Aunts: Shirley Dansby, Emma Rorie Foster; Sister-in-law Franceina Burroughs; Very dear friends: Miranda Robinson, Nancy Young, Nicole Ellsworth, Loretta Johnson, and Atty. Anna Forbes Townes.
Jerome made his living by serving others because that was his greatest joy. He had a wonderful sense of humor. The laughter and smiles of others were his most cherished rewards. He went above and beyond the requirements of his business duties often. Selflessly, he would ensure that the needs of his clients were met and he never asked for or accepted additional compensation. Jerome's wish was that when he passed, his memory would live on in acts of service and random kindness performed by his loved ones.