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Reverend Joseph Darby Jr. of Charleston County passed away on August 8, 2025, at age seventy-four, one day after his birthday

Fourth-generation African Methodist Episcopal minister who earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of South Carolina in 1973 and later attended Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary

Served thirteen years as a juvenile probation counselor at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice before entering full-time ministry beginning at Piney Grove AME Church in 1977

Led the historic Morris Brown AME Church from 1998 to 2013, then served as presiding elder of the Beaufort District, and most recently pastored Nichols Chapel AME Church

Active in community organizations including first vice president of the Charleston branch of the NAACP, chairman of P.A.S.T.O.R.S. Housing Initiative, and the South Carolina Coalition of Black Church Leaders; survived by sons Jeremy and Jason and four grandchildren