Darlene Calhoun's Obituary
Seventy-seven years of her extraordinary life is too amazing to summarize in a few paragraphs.
Darlene Ross Abraham Calhoun, age 77, of Navarre, Florida, formerly of Memphis, Tennessee, passed away on March 19th, 2024, in Pensacola, Florida.
Darlene was born August 12th, 1946, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Abraham ‘Brownie’ Abraham of Albany, New York, and Betsy Ross Springer of Florence, Alabama. Shortly afterward, Betsy and Darlene moved to Boston, living with Brownie’s oldest sister, Sophie George. On October 10th, 1947, 14-month-old Darlene and Betsy took a ten-day voyage on the “Thomas Barry” to join Brownie in Germany. On March 8th, 1949, three days after Brownie’s unexpected passing, they returned to Boston to live with Sophie.
In the fall of 1949, Betsy and Darlene returned to Memphis to live with Betsy’s parents, Virgil Levi ‘Papa’ and Blanche Emma Springer. Per Betsy, Darlene’s love of books began at two, even above her other toys. Her education began at East High School in 1952, and she immediately loved East. She had only one big dream: to graduate from East High School. Then, in 1957, Betsy remarried, and on December 31st, 1958, Darlene’s sister Catherine Blanche McGoff was born.
In the summer of 1962, Papa took the family to Disneyland before seeing Betsy off to Yokohama, Japan, where her new husband was stationed. On Darlene’s 16th birthday, the first without her mother, she received a watch Betsy purchased from “Main Street USA” in Disneyland, and a ceramic dog from Cathi. Darlene felt that her dream of graduating from East High was not worth the time away from her mother. She joined her mother in Japan on May 1st, 1963, to begin her senior year at Yokohama High.
Darlene often spoke fondly about her time in Japan and experienced things most girls her age could only dream of. Unfortunately, tragedy struck again, and due to the untimely passing of her mother, she returned to Memphis on March 1st, 1964. Upon returning to the States, immediately following Betsy’s funeral, Cathi was moved to San Francisco where her father was reassigned. Darlene felt the only silver lining was fulfilling her childhood dream. At seventeen, Darlene graduated from East High School on May 21st, 1964, surrounded by friends and loved ones she had known her entire life. Papa fought diligently to keep in contact with Cathi, but in the fall of 1965, Cathi’s father remarried, and by mid-summer of 1966, all communication ended. Darlene lost contact with her sister for years.
On August 14th, 1964, two days after her 18th Birthday, Darlene married Bobby Joe “BJ” Steadman in a small chapel in Marion, Arkansas. Seven months later she bought her first home on Eastview Drive in Memphis. On May 27th, 1965, and noted as one of the two life-changing events in her life, she gave birth to Robert Glenn Steadman. She graduated from Draughon’s Business College on December 15th, 1966, with a degree in “IBM Stenographic and Nancy Taylor.” Her first job was doing payroll for a laundry service in downtown Memphis. Despite being very happy and in love, to provide stability for her and her son, she divorced Bob in January 1969, and moved to a new home on Highland Park Place. She remarried that December, but it was short-lived, and by March 1972, Darlene was living her best life again.
Enjoying the single life for the first time in her adult life, Darlene actively participated in the 1970s Memphis nightlife scene. The Mouse Trap in Midtown and Club Caesar, Memphis’ first authentic Discotheque, were some of her favorites. Not only did these days forge more lifelong friendships with her best girlfriends, but Darlene never suspected those party days would change her life forever. Fed up with marriage and having no plans to marry again anytime soon, she enjoyed life to the fullest. If you corner the right friend, you can enjoy some pretty outrageous stories to this day; once again, life had other plans…
Sometime in 1972, Darlene met the man who would end up being her “Third time’s a charm.” The two dated for a little over a year, and on January 4th, 1974, Darlene married Huey Calvin Calhoun. They originally planned to be married at a chapel, but on January 3rd, 1974, one of the worst snow and ice storms in history ravaged Memphis. Not only could their friends not attend, but the chapel had no power or phone. It ended up a private little service at Harold Goodwin’s house with only his wife to bear witness. In August, she sold her house, and the couple purchased a beautiful three-bedroom, two-bath home with a pool on Powers Rd. in Raleigh, across the street from a couple who would quickly break the bounds of friendship to become family. The two couples became inseparable, as were Robert and Cindy Carol, his “sister” and Darlene’s “daughter from another mother.”
On August 11th, 1976, Daniel Earl Calhoun was born, noted as her second life-changing event and “30th Birthday Present.” Danny got his name in honor of two of Huey’s best friends. The family was so happy, and Robert was so proud to have a little brother. Less than a month later, after talking to Robert and his father Bob, Darlene and Huey filed a petition, and on April 4th, 1977, Huey officially adopted Robert, and the phrase “too many Calhouns” took on a whole new meaning. In the spring of 1978, Papa got a call, and a voice said, “Is this Virgil Springer?” When he answered yes, another question followed, “Is your address 180 North Holmes?” again, he answered yes. “I think I’m your granddaughter.”, was the next thing he heard. His prayers were answered; it was Cathi. Twelve years later, she remembered his name and address. Papa reunited the sisters; Cathi moved to Memphis, got a job, and lived with Darlene and her family until she could afford an apartment. In 1981, Darlene’s long-lost cousin Raymond Abraham flew to Memphis, met the family, and helped Darlene learn more about her dad, the Boston Abraham brothers and sisters, and their children. The family continued to expand.
Through the following years, Darlene became quite the host for more parties, some wilder than others, and this time with a pool. She hosted weddings and wedding receptions for family and enjoyed working in the yard and sitting by the pool with family and friends. She hosted holiday events, birthday parties, and dinners with the family monthly. Darlene’s greatest wish was to keep the brothers and granddaughters close while the family and lifelong friends became more abundant. Fortunately, she also became quite the caretaker. Caring for her husband through a work injury that ended his career, many back surgeries, a heart attack, and other health issues. She stopped working to care for Papa in his final years, her sister during the birth of both her children and her liver transplant. In April 2003, they sold the house in Raleigh and bought another in the Hunters Hollow Subdivision in Cordova. She continued the holiday traditions, birthday parties, and monthly family dinners for the ever-expanding family that now included daughters-in-law, husbands, grandsons, and, eventually, great-grandchildren. All while being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Papa passed away in the spring of 2004, and following many years of health issues, a stroke, and surgery at the end of his life, Huey passed away on March 14th, 2015. Darlene forged many friendships throughout this era of her life; wild parties were thrown, and bones and hearts were broken (hers, family, and close friends alike).
In July 2017, Darlene began a new chapter in her life and moved to Navarre, Florida. Although it was a bit of a slow start, her involvement in the Navarre Senior Center and her life at The Reserve made many new friendships and touched many lives within her new community. Living her best life yet, she enjoyed the Florida flora and fauna (with some of her favorites being the Great Blue Heron and the Sand Pipers), fundraising and event planning for the Senior Center, the beach, walking the Pier, and spending time with family (in Memphis and Navarre), she lived to see her family grow in ways that most people don’t, and to be a great-great-grandmother; a fact she was quite proud of. Most of all, the theme of her life continued - reading, shopping, dancing, any excuse to eat & drink with family & friends, and running up and down the coast with her girls. She was a “little opinionated,” a fierce fighter, and she would defend her position intensely. But the stories and expression of love since her passing are a testament to her true legacy. She will be greatly missed!
Darlene was preceded in death by her grandparents Virgil and Blanche Springer, parents Brownie and Betsy Abraham, husband Huey Calhoun, sister Cathi White, and her precious dog Spartacus (whom she stole from Danny). She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Robert and Kayte Calhoun, Danny and Whitney Calhoun, and her “daughter by another mother” Cindy Carol; granddaughters Angel Marie and James Patterson, Jennifer Love and Benjamin Rye; grandsons Devin ‘Xander’ Calhoun, and Lane Greger; great-grandchildren Brooklyn and Jace Starnes, Bailey Rye, Raegan Roebuck, Cayson Rye, and Savannah Patterson; her great-great-granddaughter Emory Starnes; nephews Jordan and Caitlin White, Chris White; long-lost cousin Raymond Abraham and her beloved dog Baxter.
The family will receive friends for visitation two hours prior to the service starting at 11:00am on Thursday, April 4th, 2024. Funeral Service will begin at 1:00pm in the Riverside Chapel at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Burial will take place in Memorial Park Cemetery and with a reception to follow.
To view the service via livestream, please click on the link below:
https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/99541/hash:7F636490B9AE8F26
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