Darrell Lee Bays, 1920-1990

Darrell L. Bays was born in Lincoln County, West Virginia, on October 27, 1920, a son of Elmer and Garnett Bays. He was the oldest of 10 living children.

Following his call to the ordained ministry, Darrell served in the West Virginia conference, the Troy conference, and transferred to the Virginia conference in 1960. He served Goshen-Rockbridge, Baths, Sherando-Lyndhurst, Crimora, Tangier, Wachapreague- Quinby, Cashville, Wrights Chapel-Hopewell, Surrey, East Halifax, and Nelsons, where he retired in 1987.

Darrell and Sylvia moved to Farmville and, in retirement, served at Meherrin, and the Nottoway Charge. He entered into eternal rest in Lynchburg General Hospital on August 22, 1990, following an illness of five months. His ministry spanned some 42 years in the three conferences. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Sylvia Mae Bays; two sons, Darrell A. and Rodney Lee Bays; and two daughters, Doreen B. Doney, and Beverly B. Phillips.

Darrell was a rural pastor all of his ministry, and we thank God for rural ministers, willing to serve, even in retirement, the small membership churches and to help them have good leadership. Members of the churches in the Farmville District where he served have expressed their appreciation for his fine work in their churches.

Brother Bays loved his wife and family -- lovely, gracious, mountain people. Darrell loved life; he had a zest for life -- always some project in mind, expressing itself in his hobbies of gardening and woodworking. He had a tremendous garden, and was extremely generous with his vegetables for his neighbors and friends; in woodwork he could make most anything. The writer was a benefactor of both the gardening and the woodworking.

Darrell's final sermon was preached at Bethel and St. John's United Methodist churches on June 3, 1990, where he remarked, "I'm dying with cancer, but it's OK; someday I will enter into full [eternal] life."

A service of worship, praise, and thanksgiving was held on August 25, 1990, at the Smyrna Church (Prospect Charge), at Sheppards, Virginia, by his district superintendent, Henry E. Riley, Jr., and the pastor of the church, the Rev. Thomas L. Walthall. Burial was in the church cemetery. The writer quoted these lines:

"Servant of God, well done! Thy glorious warfare past;

The battle fought, the race is won, And thou art crowned at last."

Henry E. Riley, Jr.