Darla D Gryder

Darla D. Gryder, 49, of Hampton, Ga., and formerly from Bradford, Ill., passed away and went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, June 29, 2011, at the residence of her sister, Debbie Wessels in Ankeny, Iowa, surrounded by her loving family. Darla waged a courageous yearlong battle with colon cancer. Darla was born Aug. 15, 1961, in Kewanee, Ill., to Delbert and Doris (Russell) Howell. She was a 1979 graduate of Bradford High School and a 1983 graduate of Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. Because of her love of travel, she continued her education at Southeastern Academy (a travel training school in Kissimmee, Fla.), graduating in 1986 and topping her graduating class, and she was awarded the Honor Graduate Medallion. During her summers as a teenager, she worked with her sisters at their family owned ice cream business, The Big Dipper. After attending school, Darla was employed as a travel agent for several years and then as an office manager at the Human Services Center in Peoria. Following marriage, she was employed as a church secretary at Eagles Landing Baptist Church and substitute teacher at Dutchtown Middle School in Georgia. Darla was a devoted and loving wife and mother and found no greater joy than in spending time with her family. She spent much of her time as a teacher''s aide and a room mother as well as running her boys to many different sporting events and practices. Darla was active serving her Lord from an early age, singing with her sisters on the radio and in churches, being a member of the Show My People TV choir while in college, and being an AWANA leader and Patch the Pirate Club leader in her church. She is currently a member of Pinecrest Baptist Church in McDonough, Ga. Darla doted on her nieces and nephews like they were her own children. She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile and her sweet and tender spirit. Left to cherish her memory is her husband, Daniel Gryder and children, Drew (age 14) and Dylan (age 11) Gryder of Hampton, Ga.; her parents, Delbert and Doris Howell of Bradford, Ill.; her three sisters, Debbie (Gary) Wessels of Ankeny, Iowa, Darcy (Tim) Stanley of Dunlap, Ill., and Donya (Darrell) Bayles of Ankeny, Iowa; as well as many nieces and nephews. The funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 12, 2011, at Bradford Baptist Church with burial to follow at Bradford Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 10 to 11 a.m. preceding the funeral. Memorial contributions may be made to Bradford Baptist Church or Alliance for Excellence Fund at Bob Jones University.