James "Jim" Randle Darby, 88, of Jonesboro, Georgia, died in his home on Sunday, July 5, 2026, after a lengthy illness. Born January 9, 1938, in Newton County, Georgia, he was the son of the late James Cleo and Mary Will Standard Darby.
He was raised in the Salem Community of Newton County and was a graduate of Newton County High School and the University of Georgia. On June 25, 1960, he married Dorothy Snow in Porterdale, Georgia, and they settled first in DeKalb County and then Clayton County where they would reside for more than fifty years.
In 1965, he opened the first Darby Furniture store and would later expand to have locations in Hapeville, Jonesboro, and Sunnyside. He served the South Metro community with humility and compassion for more than sixty years and considered all his customers to be family. In fact, nothing pleased him more than to see the children and grandchildren of his customers come into one his stores and ask to see "Mr. Darby."
In 1983, he was awarded the "Nice Guy Award" by the Georgia Home Furnishings Representatives Association in recognition of fostering friendly relations between dealer and salesmen, good business ethics, and fair treatment and consideration of his fellow man.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Christine and her husband Jack Daniel, and his son Alan Burris Darby.
He is survived by his loving wife of sixty-six years, daughter Amy Clemens and her husband Scott of McDonough; daughter in law Kelly Swann Darby of Peachtree City; five grandchildren, Matt Clemens, Carrie Clemens, Katie Clemens Kulp and her husband Harrison, Katie Stange and her husband Anthony, and Kenneth Wheeler; and great grandchildren Darby Snow Kulp,Theo Stange, and Isla Stange.
The family will receive visitors on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Ford Stewart Funeral Home in Jonesboro. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 2:00 PM at Jonesboro First United Methodist Church followed by a private graveside service in Macon, Georgia, at Riverside Cemetery.