Darla & Mike McKenzie
Darla & Mike McKenzie
Obituary
Darla Grinstead McKenzie (September 14, 1956 – January 28, 2025)
Michael Alan McKenzie (September 4, 1952 – January 28, 2025)
Darla and Michael McKenzie of Mountain Park, GA passed away together on January 28, 2025. Devoted partners for nearly 48 years, they built a life filled with love, family, and friendship, and their impact will be felt for years to come.
Married on May 27, 1977, they raised three children: Katherine Johnson (41), Patrick McKenzie (39), and Colin McKenzie (32). They are also survived by Darla’s mother, Barbara Grinstead, six siblings, two grandchildren, multiple nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Mike McKenzie graduated from Georgia Tech in 1974, where he played defensive back on their football team, and earned his juris doctorate from Mercer University in 1977. As a lawyer, he spent much of his career at Cozen O’Connor, specializing in arson insurance law, and retired in 2015. A skilled litigator and compassionate advocate, he dedicated much of his time to pro bono work with the Innocence Project, where his expertise in arson cases led to the exoneration of numerous wrongfully convicted individuals. Those who knew him admired his sharp legal mind, deep sense of justice, and commitment to mentorship. Outside of his legal work, Mike was a dedicated Scout leader for many years and an avid backpacker. He also had a passion for antique radio restoration, carefully bringing old pieces of history back to life. Further, Mike conducted extensive genealogy research for many years, eventually publishing a book titled The McKenzies of Early Maryland.
Darla McKenzie graduated from Wesleyan College in 1977 and earned her juris doctorate from Emory University in 1980. She was a highly respected partner at the Atlanta law firm Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, where she built a career in real estate law, and retired in 2019. Colleagues remember her as an extraordinary mentor, a wise advisor, and a steadfast friend. She was known not only for her intelligence and impeccable judgment but also for her warmth and generosity. Darla was deeply involved in her community, volunteering at the local library and sharing her love of books with others. She also found joy in quilting, a craft that reflected her patience, creativity, and attention to detail.
Together, Darla and Mike shared a love of hiking and traveling, always seeking new experiences and adventures. Their journeys took them around the world and led to many cherished moments and new friendships.
Their loss is deeply felt by their family, friends, colleagues, and all who were fortunate to know them. Their legacies—of dedication to their work, their family, and the greater good—will continue to inspire those they left behind.
A memorial service will be held at Mount Paran North Church in Marietta, Georgia on April 12, 2025 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Doors will open at 12:30 pm. Service at 1:00 pm with reception following.
Alternate Donation Options
Instead of donating to the McKenzie trust, donations may be made in their memory to one of the following organizations, which were near and dear to Mike and Darla's hearts:
* Wesleyan College (https://wesportal.wesleyancollege.edu/WCGA/PayCenter/giving.aspx). Select "In Memory Of" and enter Darla Grinstead McKenzie. In the Special Notes enter "Please earmark for Darla Grinstead McKenzie scholarship of 2025." and for the Gift Designation, select "Wesleyan Fund: Scholarships and Student Success").
* The Innocence Project (https://innocenceproject.org).
* The Friends of the Roswell Library (https://forl.net).
* Scouting America, to your local scouting organization or to the Atlanta Area Council (30062 zip code) (https://donations.scouting.org).
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April 12, 2025
This has been really hard to get to, and I've started and stopped more than once.
My first memory of Mike was more than 25 years ago. We were both new parents in Troop 795, and we decided to take our kids together on a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail. Needless to say, we really didn't know what we were doing. We learned.
My last memory, was a breakfast together on January 22. It almost didn't happen. We talked about old radios and how to bridge the differences across the political divide in this country.
In between are many memories. I recall Mike making an endless stream of camp stove waffles on an antique waffle press he had acquired. I recall hiking together at Philmont and his joy on top of the Tooth of Time. I recall his absolute glee pasting bandaids on everything and everyone as a member of the Medics Patrol which won the Honor and Spirit Patrol awards at the 2005 Scouter's Winter Campout.
Most of all I recall that both he and Darla were among the most giving and caring and upbeat individuals that I have known. They both helped me personally, with some challenges that I have had to navigate. The world is full of people who will maybe do a little bit. They were two individuals who were in all the way. I will miss them a lot.
My first memory of Mike was more than 25 years ago. We were both new parents in Troop 795, and we decided to take our kids together on a backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail. Needless to say, we really didn't know what we were doing. We learned.
My last memory, was a breakfast together on January 22. It almost didn't happen. We talked about old radios and how to bridge the differences across the political divide in this country.
In between are many memories. I recall Mike making an endless stream of camp stove waffles on an antique waffle press he had acquired. I recall hiking together at Philmont and his joy on top of the Tooth of Time. I recall his absolute glee pasting bandaids on everything and everyone as a member of the Medics Patrol which won the Honor and Spirit Patrol awards at the 2005 Scouter's Winter Campout.
Most of all I recall that both he and Darla were among the most giving and caring and upbeat individuals that I have known. They both helped me personally, with some challenges that I have had to navigate. The world is full of people who will maybe do a little bit. They were two individuals who were in all the way. I will miss them a lot.
April 12, 2025
I cherished my friendship with Darla deeply. We were unintentional work colleagues who became friends intentionally.
I’ll miss our movie and dinner date nights and the lively and wonderful conversations afterwards - sharing a great meal, critiquing the movie, talking about life and family, the latest book recommendation and the next travel adventure being planned.
There is so much I admire about Darla and Mike. Their loving marriage and respect for each other, the love they had for and the great care they took of their family, and the kindness and integrity they showed everyone.
They leave a lasting legacy through the love and strength they instilled in their children and grandchildren, and all who knew them. Their memory is a blessing.
I’ll miss our movie and dinner date nights and the lively and wonderful conversations afterwards - sharing a great meal, critiquing the movie, talking about life and family, the latest book recommendation and the next travel adventure being planned.
There is so much I admire about Darla and Mike. Their loving marriage and respect for each other, the love they had for and the great care they took of their family, and the kindness and integrity they showed everyone.
They leave a lasting legacy through the love and strength they instilled in their children and grandchildren, and all who knew them. Their memory is a blessing.
April 12, 2025
In 1991 I taught Katherine McKenzie in second grade. What a precious child! I quickly got to know Darla and Michael as they were very involved in Katherine’s education. Darla helped in the classroom often. She volunteered to read to small groups & to read to the whole class as Adventure’s in Reading Mom. She also went on field trips with the class. Darla was quick to do anything that was needed in the classroom.
I was always impressed during conference time how Michael and Darla would come together to discuss their child. They were always very supportive. It was clear how much they adored their children!
It was a pleasure to be a part of the McKenzie family’s life.
Fondly,
Kathryn Cain
I was always impressed during conference time how Michael and Darla would come together to discuss their child. They were always very supportive. It was clear how much they adored their children!
It was a pleasure to be a part of the McKenzie family’s life.
Fondly,
Kathryn Cain
April 11, 2025
We met Mike and Darla in 1985 when Mike hired Wayne to work at McKenzie & McPhail right out of law school. Mike was an incredible mentor and friend, teaching Wayne the ins and outs of lawyering. Our families also became friends over the first ten years of Wayne’s career. The McKenzies became a family of five after Darla spent an entire day holding our newborn daughter in 1992 and promptly went home and told Mike, “I want another baby!” We cherish the memories we made with their family when we were all young and starting out in our respective careers and growing our families. Although we hadn’t been in contact in recent years, we will miss them dearly. May they rest in love and peace.
April 11, 2025
I met Darla in law school. I was ten years older than most of the other students but eleven years older than Darla. It didn’t matter to her that I was older and had two children. We met Mike while we still students all of us immediately hit it off.
After Law school we kept in touch and their first house was close to ours. The last time we saw Darla and Mike was when they stopped by ourt St Simon’s house about a year or so ago. We had a great time with them there. They are sorely missed by both Phil and me . Darla
always remembered our anniversary with an email this year it will be a quiet time to reflect.
I know how hard their deaths must be on the family members I hope the children and grandchildren will have wonderful memories of both Mike and Darla.
With profound grief. Janet and Phil Fortune
After Law school we kept in touch and their first house was close to ours. The last time we saw Darla and Mike was when they stopped by ourt St Simon’s house about a year or so ago. We had a great time with them there. They are sorely missed by both Phil and me . Darla
always remembered our anniversary with an email this year it will be a quiet time to reflect.
I know how hard their deaths must be on the family members I hope the children and grandchildren will have wonderful memories of both Mike and Darla.
With profound grief. Janet and Phil Fortune
April 10, 2025
I had the pleasure of knowing Mike for over 25 years through his work on the McKenzies of Early Maryland genealogy project. I wish I had gotten to know Darla better. I only had the pleasure of meeting her once in 2012. She seemed like she was equally kind and amazing. I feel so blessed to have known Mike. His attention to detail, and his generosity with his time and expertise were unmatched. The work that he did, especially on the Innocence Project, was so inspirational. I don’t know how Mike had the time to lead the McKenzie of Maryland project on top of all the important work that he was doing, but somehow he did.
The McKenzie Quest, as Mike and I called it, all started between 1995 and 2000. For most of us it was a fun hobby. For Mike it was a true passion project. Through his website and subsequent book, Mike brought the family of John Mackinzie of Hobson’s Choice MD, born 1687, to life. By doing this he created an anchor point for all of us which forms of the base of our collective McKenzie family tree.
Mike made us feel like we were truly family, his family, and that he cared deeply about us. I somehow thought Mike would always be with us, like the records and legend of John Mackinzie himself. I am so sorry that we didn’t have the opportunity to connect in person on my last trip back to GA. I would have loved spending more time with both Mike and Darla. As they say, he cast a pebble into a great lake and the ripples that resulted will continue outward in ways we will never know. My life has been changed by Mike and is so much richer than it would have been had I never met him. Please take care of each other during this difficult time, and always. Know that your parents are with you in spirit.
With deepest sympathy.
The McKenzie Quest, as Mike and I called it, all started between 1995 and 2000. For most of us it was a fun hobby. For Mike it was a true passion project. Through his website and subsequent book, Mike brought the family of John Mackinzie of Hobson’s Choice MD, born 1687, to life. By doing this he created an anchor point for all of us which forms of the base of our collective McKenzie family tree.
Mike made us feel like we were truly family, his family, and that he cared deeply about us. I somehow thought Mike would always be with us, like the records and legend of John Mackinzie himself. I am so sorry that we didn’t have the opportunity to connect in person on my last trip back to GA. I would have loved spending more time with both Mike and Darla. As they say, he cast a pebble into a great lake and the ripples that resulted will continue outward in ways we will never know. My life has been changed by Mike and is so much richer than it would have been had I never met him. Please take care of each other during this difficult time, and always. Know that your parents are with you in spirit.
With deepest sympathy.
April 9, 2025
What’s amazing, and very rare, about Mike and Darla is how they deeply cared about and enriched our lives as well as the lives of hundreds of other people, leaving an outsized positive footprint in this world that will resonate through several generations. They both were engaging in conversation, keenly interested in others, and active in spending their time and energy helping others.
Darla was such a profound influence for me. Shortly after I started Wesleyan College in the same class with Dana, the college took out an ad in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution with a large photo of Darla with the caption “Law is still a man’s world. That’s why I chose a women’s college.” That inspired me to reach farther and started a 40+ year relationship with Darla in which she served as an inspiration in combining career achievement with raising a family. Even more than a mentor, Darla was a dear friend who I greatly miss.
Scott’s favorite memory of Darla was the first time he met her when Mike and Darla visited to see our newborn son, Luke. Darla absolutely beamed as she held Luke and exhibited a deep, emanating love that he’d not seen outside immediate family. Darla loved life, loved people, and particularly loved children. Scott and I both greatly appreciated Mike encouraging our younger son, Jake, to continue his camping and hiking interests after discontinuing scouting even going as far to take all of us (including Darla and me) on a weekend camping trip to North Georgia. It was pouring rain that first evening, but Mike managed to grill delicious steaks for all of us. Scott said that Mike was one of the most interesting and admirable men he’s ever known, and that he greatly appreciated Mike’s mentorship and friendship.
Mike and Darla were dear friends who were a joy to spend time with. We traveled with them to Costa Rica, spent quality time at their cabin, enjoyed playing games, soaked in their wisdom, and sought to model ourselves after them. We miss them so much….
Darla was such a profound influence for me. Shortly after I started Wesleyan College in the same class with Dana, the college took out an ad in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution with a large photo of Darla with the caption “Law is still a man’s world. That’s why I chose a women’s college.” That inspired me to reach farther and started a 40+ year relationship with Darla in which she served as an inspiration in combining career achievement with raising a family. Even more than a mentor, Darla was a dear friend who I greatly miss.
Scott’s favorite memory of Darla was the first time he met her when Mike and Darla visited to see our newborn son, Luke. Darla absolutely beamed as she held Luke and exhibited a deep, emanating love that he’d not seen outside immediate family. Darla loved life, loved people, and particularly loved children. Scott and I both greatly appreciated Mike encouraging our younger son, Jake, to continue his camping and hiking interests after discontinuing scouting even going as far to take all of us (including Darla and me) on a weekend camping trip to North Georgia. It was pouring rain that first evening, but Mike managed to grill delicious steaks for all of us. Scott said that Mike was one of the most interesting and admirable men he’s ever known, and that he greatly appreciated Mike’s mentorship and friendship.
Mike and Darla were dear friends who were a joy to spend time with. We traveled with them to Costa Rica, spent quality time at their cabin, enjoyed playing games, soaked in their wisdom, and sought to model ourselves after them. We miss them so much….
April 6, 2025
I met Darla in 1977 when we were first year law students at Emory. Although we were not in the same section, we quickly became friends as part of a group of women who studied together; took up running together; studied for the bar together; suffered through the bar exam together; and, thankfully, passed it together. Nothing like the bar exam to bring people together.
We started in our respective law practices in 1980, and we stayed in close contact as we struggled to make the transition from law student to lawyer. Three years later, we were pregnant at the same time, and her first child, and my only child, were born less than 6 weeks apart. It was a shock to both of us that virtually overnight our conversations shifted from drafting contract provisions to what we thought were the very best butt wipes. Eventually, our conversations returned to headier topics, like, “Is it buck naked or butt naked,” but it took a while.
Those who knew Darla well know that she loved food. For someone as small as she was, she just really loved eating. In 1999, I convinced her to go with me to a tennis camp at Sweet Briar College in Lynchburg, VA, my hometown. I was concerned about how my tennis skills were going to stack up against people from all over the country, and how I was going to hold up in what looked to be about 9 hours of actual on-court instruction for 3 straight days. As we were planning our trip, Darla said, “I have looked over this really intense schedule, and I’m really concerned … that we won’t have enough to eat.” So, she was in charge of snacks. She was such a great friend that although she had pulled a muscle in her calf a couple of days before we were to leave for the camp, she would not back out of the trip, and she with her Ace-bandaged calf and a tennis bag full of snacks went with me to the camp, and we had an awesome trip. It is one of my best memories of my time with her.
Darla was a true friend. There aren’t many friends who can say to each other things like, “I don’t agree with you,” or “I don’t think you should do that,” or, even, “I agree with your husband” (that one she said to me…) without fear of damaging your relationship. But that’s the kind of friendship we had for 48 years. You often see in obituaries phrases like, “She was a friend to all who knew her.” There are probably lots of people who would say that Darla was their best friend. However, although Darla had many close friends, she would never refer to anyone as being her “best friend.” She told me once that referring to one person as a “best friend” would diminish her relationships with her many other friends. So, I’ll just say that she was a true friend – a true friend who I was fortunate to have in my life for the time that I did.
We started in our respective law practices in 1980, and we stayed in close contact as we struggled to make the transition from law student to lawyer. Three years later, we were pregnant at the same time, and her first child, and my only child, were born less than 6 weeks apart. It was a shock to both of us that virtually overnight our conversations shifted from drafting contract provisions to what we thought were the very best butt wipes. Eventually, our conversations returned to headier topics, like, “Is it buck naked or butt naked,” but it took a while.
Those who knew Darla well know that she loved food. For someone as small as she was, she just really loved eating. In 1999, I convinced her to go with me to a tennis camp at Sweet Briar College in Lynchburg, VA, my hometown. I was concerned about how my tennis skills were going to stack up against people from all over the country, and how I was going to hold up in what looked to be about 9 hours of actual on-court instruction for 3 straight days. As we were planning our trip, Darla said, “I have looked over this really intense schedule, and I’m really concerned … that we won’t have enough to eat.” So, she was in charge of snacks. She was such a great friend that although she had pulled a muscle in her calf a couple of days before we were to leave for the camp, she would not back out of the trip, and she with her Ace-bandaged calf and a tennis bag full of snacks went with me to the camp, and we had an awesome trip. It is one of my best memories of my time with her.
Darla was a true friend. There aren’t many friends who can say to each other things like, “I don’t agree with you,” or “I don’t think you should do that,” or, even, “I agree with your husband” (that one she said to me…) without fear of damaging your relationship. But that’s the kind of friendship we had for 48 years. You often see in obituaries phrases like, “She was a friend to all who knew her.” There are probably lots of people who would say that Darla was their best friend. However, although Darla had many close friends, she would never refer to anyone as being her “best friend.” She told me once that referring to one person as a “best friend” would diminish her relationships with her many other friends. So, I’ll just say that she was a true friend – a true friend who I was fortunate to have in my life for the time that I did.
April 3, 2025
I have delayed writing this for many of the same reasons you all share. This makes the loss of Mike and Darla from our lives so permanent but also has given me a wonderful trip down memory lane.
I have known Mike and Darla since Dana and I became great friends at Wesleyan in the mid 80's (and the Grinsteads welcomed me into the family ❤️) but Darla was already "grown up", a successful attorney, married to Mike, with a beautiful daughter, Katherine. Our relationship grew over the years and we shared a love of camping, the outdoors, and our children. They loved my son, Elijah, and had such an impact on his life, for which I will forever be grateful. As I think about them, I remember their love for life, their generosity, kindness, and conversations about life on the porch or around the firepit. The recurrent memory I have relates to my conversations with Darla as she was having a hard time as Colin was leavig home to go to college...my reassuring (and inexperienced 😊) advice to her: it's what they're supposed to do, we provided the tools to them, and it's the next step in their lives. I remembered those "words of wisdom " that I had so expertly offered just a few years before, when Elijah then left for school...yes, so much harder than expected,
but we shed some tears together and I was so glad for her support. (She also told me she had tried to cry on Mom G's shoulder and she laughed....the real voice of experience.) Both boys have now grown up...and we continued to share life together. I will forever be grateful for those times and memories that we shared and mourn the loss of those that could have been.
Thank you Mike and Darla just for being you in my life. ❤️
(Pics- VW bus.(no further explanation needed😊), cabin during COVID, flight to Vermont Sept 2022 to visit friends (Phil and I had an RV trip just a few days later)
I have known Mike and Darla since Dana and I became great friends at Wesleyan in the mid 80's (and the Grinsteads welcomed me into the family ❤️) but Darla was already "grown up", a successful attorney, married to Mike, with a beautiful daughter, Katherine. Our relationship grew over the years and we shared a love of camping, the outdoors, and our children. They loved my son, Elijah, and had such an impact on his life, for which I will forever be grateful. As I think about them, I remember their love for life, their generosity, kindness, and conversations about life on the porch or around the firepit. The recurrent memory I have relates to my conversations with Darla as she was having a hard time as Colin was leavig home to go to college...my reassuring (and inexperienced 😊) advice to her: it's what they're supposed to do, we provided the tools to them, and it's the next step in their lives. I remembered those "words of wisdom " that I had so expertly offered just a few years before, when Elijah then left for school...yes, so much harder than expected,
but we shed some tears together and I was so glad for her support. (She also told me she had tried to cry on Mom G's shoulder and she laughed....the real voice of experience.) Both boys have now grown up...and we continued to share life together. I will forever be grateful for those times and memories that we shared and mourn the loss of those that could have been.
Thank you Mike and Darla just for being you in my life. ❤️
(Pics- VW bus.(no further explanation needed😊), cabin during COVID, flight to Vermont Sept 2022 to visit friends (Phil and I had an RV trip just a few days later)
March 27, 2025
I first met Mike and Darla in late 2010. I met John Lentini, my future husband in the fall of 2010 and the McKenzies were some of the first people he wanted me to meet and so began a friendship of many years.
I had an old box of 45 rpm records. When asked if he would like them, Mike was delighted to get them and used them on some of the many antiques radios/record players he loved to restore.
We visited and stayed with them many times at their lovey home in Rosewell, GA. They too visited with us in Islamorada, FL.
When I look around my home, I am reminded of them.
One time we visited their family cabin. There they had a new induction range/oven, what a great idea. When it came time to replace our old stove, of course we bought an induction range/oven. On another visit they showed us a piece of pottery they had bought in NC from a local artist, a salt pig. Well, we had to have one, and so we bought one. Darla and I shared a love of playing keyboards. I started on the accordion and then moved up to a small electric keyboard. Darla had a Yamaha Calvinova piano, perfect. I now have one and love it. She wanted to learn to play the accordion. I sent her some information on playing the chords, but sadly that was far as we had time to do.
So, when I look around home, I will always think of them, good memories of good times with good people.
Nancy Lentini
I had an old box of 45 rpm records. When asked if he would like them, Mike was delighted to get them and used them on some of the many antiques radios/record players he loved to restore.
We visited and stayed with them many times at their lovey home in Rosewell, GA. They too visited with us in Islamorada, FL.
When I look around my home, I am reminded of them.
One time we visited their family cabin. There they had a new induction range/oven, what a great idea. When it came time to replace our old stove, of course we bought an induction range/oven. On another visit they showed us a piece of pottery they had bought in NC from a local artist, a salt pig. Well, we had to have one, and so we bought one. Darla and I shared a love of playing keyboards. I started on the accordion and then moved up to a small electric keyboard. Darla had a Yamaha Calvinova piano, perfect. I now have one and love it. She wanted to learn to play the accordion. I sent her some information on playing the chords, but sadly that was far as we had time to do.
So, when I look around home, I will always think of them, good memories of good times with good people.
Nancy Lentini
March 20, 2025
I first met Mike around 1980 when he was a baby lawyer at Bovis Kyle and Burch, and I was a baby fire investigator at Applied Technical Services. We worked on dozens of cases together and became good friends.
I met Darla at one of the early Oyster Roasts put on by McKenzie and McPhail, and stayed friends with Mike throughout his illustrious career. He and his partners sent me so much work that I had my children trained to say, "Salt of the Earth" when they heard Mike's name.
At my age, I am accustomed to losing friends to the ravages of age, but this loss was so unnecessary. It breaks my heart.
Our deepest condolences go to Mike and Darla's family. Words cannot express how awful this is. On the other hand, they were great people who had a great life. Nancy and I look forward to joining in the celebration on April 12.
I met Darla at one of the early Oyster Roasts put on by McKenzie and McPhail, and stayed friends with Mike throughout his illustrious career. He and his partners sent me so much work that I had my children trained to say, "Salt of the Earth" when they heard Mike's name.
At my age, I am accustomed to losing friends to the ravages of age, but this loss was so unnecessary. It breaks my heart.
Our deepest condolences go to Mike and Darla's family. Words cannot express how awful this is. On the other hand, they were great people who had a great life. Nancy and I look forward to joining in the celebration on April 12.
March 16, 2025
This is very difficult for us, as I’m sure it has been for everyone else, but writing this tribute in a way is forcing us to finally accept that Mike and Darla are actually gone. The photograph of the red amaryllis is of the third shoot from the amaryllis bulb that they gave us when they were over at our house on January 9th. It is still blooming, and we will keep that bulb thriving and happy as long as humanly possible. We met Mike and Darla four years ago when we moved next door to their Blue Ridge cabin. It was amazing how fast we became good friends, I suspect it was that way with all who knew them. They were just two sweet and caring good people — fun to spend time with. We did much of that. We come from New England where our neighbors would look down at their shoes when you passed and waved at them in your car. Not these two. Every time they were in Blue Ridge they were planning something that we could do together. They even went out of their way to visit us up at our cabin in northern New Hampshire for two summers in a row, and had a third visit planned for this summer. Really good friends. Really good people. We will not see their like again. Our deepest sympathies to all of their family and friends. They, and we were robbed. We send all of our love.
Nikki and Mark Patton
Nikki and Mark Patton
March 2, 2025
Everyone on the Steering Committee of Roswell Reads shares in the loss of Darla McKenzie. She was smart, creative, caring and fun to be with. She made a great contribution to our organization and to our reading community. We miss her beautiful smile and her heartfelt commitment to bringing authors to our community. We think of her often as we make plans, missing her helping hands, her wit and wisdom. Her memory is a blessing to all of us. Our heartfelt condolences to her family. She was much loved.
March 1, 2025
I met Darla in first grade and we have stayed friends for 60+ years. When we were in first grade, the teacher had us sit alphabetically by our last name. Grinstead and Wood were not seated near each other, so each day Darla would convince the kid sitting next to her to move down a seat. The domino effect of children moving seats happened each day. At some point the teacher would turn to write something on the board and I would scurry and sit in the vacant seat by Darla. This went on every day and soon I just started the school day sitting by Darla. I have no doubt the teacher noticed this but wisely knew better than to separate us. Darla’s negotiating skills were just too good even at that age.
We navigated schools, jobs, children, weddings, travels, grandchildren, life blessings and life losses. My husband and I retired last summer and we bought a house in Blue Ridge, GA. The 4 of us were thrilled to have homes near each other and were looking forward to enjoying each other’s company more often.
January 28 shattered my life and my family’s life. None of us will ever be the same but we are all grateful for Darla and Mike’s presence in our life and the pure joy and friendship they brought to each of us.
I will forever miss sitting by my friend.
Jann Jones
We navigated schools, jobs, children, weddings, travels, grandchildren, life blessings and life losses. My husband and I retired last summer and we bought a house in Blue Ridge, GA. The 4 of us were thrilled to have homes near each other and were looking forward to enjoying each other’s company more often.
January 28 shattered my life and my family’s life. None of us will ever be the same but we are all grateful for Darla and Mike’s presence in our life and the pure joy and friendship they brought to each of us.
I will forever miss sitting by my friend.
Jann Jones
February 24, 2025
Darla and I became instant friends when we met at Mt. Zion over 20 years ago. Our girls were the same age and we had a lot in common. We lost touch until a few weeks ago and I was so excited to renew our friendship. I’m sorry we won’t be able to do that now but I’m so thankful for that 20 minutes we hugged and chatted in the middle of Publix. Mike and Darla were a wonderful and loving couple. They are missed. I’ve been praying for Barbara, Katherine and all the family for their loss. I send my love, prayers and condolences to all of them.
Unfortunately, I will be out of the country and will not be able to attend the memorial service for a wonderful couple.
Unfortunately, I will be out of the country and will not be able to attend the memorial service for a wonderful couple.
February 21, 2025
It started with a "Schnitzel Dinner" and became a long-time friendship. There are people who you do not often see in person but you instantly like them and they stay forever in your heart.
It is unbelievable what has happened. My deepest sympathy to the whole family, especially Colin, Pat, and Jake, whose aquaintance I am fortunate to have made.
Sincerely,
Ilse from Vienna
It is unbelievable what has happened. My deepest sympathy to the whole family, especially Colin, Pat, and Jake, whose aquaintance I am fortunate to have made.
Sincerely,
Ilse from Vienna
February 20, 2025
We met Darla and Mike, and Pat and Jake, on a train in Austria in September 2014. What started as a casual chat turned into a real friendship in which distance didn't matter, neither geographically nor in terms of age. The days we got to spend together in Austria and the USA weren't many but we worship each and every one of them all the more. We shared good and sad times. We admired Darla and Mike for their empathy, wit, openness, sense of humor and so much more. We feel privileged and forever grateful to have known them and to have been able to call them our very good friends, our American family.
Their loss was and is heartbreaking. But we will carry Darla and Mike and all the memories we shared with us forever. We will never forget what we learned from them. Seeing their great love for each other was beautiful and inspiring.
Our deepest condolences to the family, the friends and the colleagues. Our hearts go out to you, Barbara, Colin, Patrick and Josie, Pat and Jake ... and everyone we haven't met but who were close and dear to Darla and Mike.
Their impact on so many lives is a lasting one. The psychologist Viktor Frankl wrote, "In the past, nothing is irretrievably lost, but rather, on the contrary, everything is irrevocably stored and treasured." This is also true for Darla and Mike, and their legacy. We will never forget them.
Their loss was and is heartbreaking. But we will carry Darla and Mike and all the memories we shared with us forever. We will never forget what we learned from them. Seeing their great love for each other was beautiful and inspiring.
Our deepest condolences to the family, the friends and the colleagues. Our hearts go out to you, Barbara, Colin, Patrick and Josie, Pat and Jake ... and everyone we haven't met but who were close and dear to Darla and Mike.
Their impact on so many lives is a lasting one. The psychologist Viktor Frankl wrote, "In the past, nothing is irretrievably lost, but rather, on the contrary, everything is irrevocably stored and treasured." This is also true for Darla and Mike, and their legacy. We will never forget them.
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