Darlene Toby Brown, age 71, of Smithfield, Virginia, passed at 8:51 a.m. on September 27th, 2024.  

After years of illness, her passing was peaceful. Family, music and the comfort of home ushered her on to heaven. 

She was born on February 25, 1953, to Joseph M. Sr. and Caroline Hasenour Toby. Raised in St. Anthony, Indiana, Darlene moved to Virginia and married Wesley Brown in 1976. They have two children — Kimberly and Kevin. 

Darlene, a farmer’s daughter, is the middle child of 11. She arose from the Toby pack as quite the bowler.  She went on to be a hobby artist – cross stitching, crocheting, sewing, drawing, and painting. Her most favorite pleasure was gardening. Gardening ran deep through her bones—as did birds and bees. 

As a mother, she spent hours teaching her children how to find joy in nature, to cook a home-grown meal and to appreciate the harvest. The harvest of her life, however, came in the form of five beautiful grandchildren. “Nana” loved her family deeply. Time spent cheering on her grands from sidelines or going on big family trips were her joys.  She hopes her life rooted gifts of Strength, Grit, the Joy of Nurturing, and Selfless-Fierce love to the generations to follow.

For many years, Darlene and Wesley ran their family business—Brown’s Automotive.  Darlene collected many friends working at the shop. With an open heart and welcoming smile, she appreciated the steady flow of customers.  She was also blessed with a neighborhood full of treasured friends. Her motto was “the more the merrier.” Friends were family to Darlene.

She is survived by her husband, Wesley Brown, and her children, Kimberly (John) Dunn and Kevin Brown; grandchildren, Elijah, Lucy and Stella Brown, and Sammie and Jane Dunn; her sisters, Betty (Terry) Forbes, and Susie (Tom) Loven; three brothers, Joseph Toby Jr, David (Jyl) Toby, Tom (Reba) Toby, sister-in-law Clara Toby, and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Caroline Sutton and Rosemary Klein; three brothers, Ronald (Butch), Mike and William (Bill) Toby. 

The family will receive friends and family at their home, 910 Magruder Rd, Smithfield, VA 23430 on Sunday, 20 October 2024 from 2-5pm with a celebration of life at 3pm. 

The family would like to carry on Darlene’s love for nature by planting a garden on the hill behind their home. Please consider sharing a potted plant. Darlene and Wesley proudly helped launch the Kiwanis Fishing Clinic. Memorial contributions may be made to Norfolk Botanical Gardens – Nature Day for a kid. https://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/give/a-day-of-nature-scholarship-fund/.

A special thanks to the Doctors and Nurses that helped to care for Darlene:  Dr. Lauren Salmon, Trish, Sheila, Ginny, Patricia, Melanie, Michelle, Kelli, Sue, Brandi, and Kim.  Online condolences may be registered at www.littlesfuneralhome.com.