Ms. Celestine "Celes" Darby was blessed to eternal rest on Thursday, March 6, 2008 at Civista Medical Center, La Plata, Maryland from complications after surgery.

Ms. Darby was born Sept. 19, 1960 to Mr. Wesley Darby, Jr. and the late Daisy Bell Lillian Owens Williams Darby in Calhoun County, S.C. She graduated from Lake Taylor High School, Norfolk, VA, Norfolk College, and Prince Georges Community College, Largo, M.D.

She was a member of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Waldorf, M.D. where she participated in the Women's Ministry, Women's Shelter, and Scholarship Committees. Ms. Darby was most recently employed with The Washington Post for seven years until 2007 as an administrative assistant to the office of Finance and Human Resources.

Her loving mother, Daisy Darby, brother, Marion "Buster" Darby, and Grandmother, Rachel Williams recently preceded her in death.

Lovingly blessed by Celestine Darby's life remain her father, Wesley Darby, Jr. of Norfolk, VA, her four brothers, respectively, Albert Darby (Mary Ann) of Virginia Beach, VA, John Wesley Darby (Duania) of Waldorf, M.D., Eugene Darby of Norfolk, VA, and Shawn C. Darby (Melody) of Chesapeake, VA. Four aunts: Julia Mae Martin of Brooklyn, N.Y., Martha Huggins of Manhattan, N.Y., Leavy Haynes (Willie) of Santee, S.C. and Celestine Russell (Bonney) of Norfolk, VA., eleven nieces and nephews also remain blessed.

A celebration of life will take place Saturday, March 15 at Lighthouse Baptist Church, 3150 Middletown Rd., Waldorf, M.D. at 11 a.m. Friends are asked to arrive at 10:30 a.m. for a pictorial viewing.

The family asks in lieu of flowers to please make donations in her name to the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 (24 hrs./day).

Services provided by Thornton Funeral Home, P. A.