Kirk Lamont Darden was born to Shirley Ioni Darden in Oakland, California on June 21, 1970. Kirk departed this life on May 7, 2026 in Clarksville, Tennessee at the age of 55.

He attended Castlemont High School in Oakland, California, and was a graduate with the class of 1988. He later attended Universal Technical Institute (UTI) in Irving, Texas and Rancho Cucamonga, California, where he studied automotive technology. He earned associate and bachelor’s degrees in leadership and ministry with a Biblical Studies concentration from Ohio Christian University in Circleville, Ohio. Throughout his career, he worked in numerous automotive and diesel mechanic positions including Mercedes-Benz of Honolulu, Hawaii; Mercedes-Benz of Alexandria, Virginia; Republic Services, Fairfax, Virginia; Republic Services, Cumming, Georgia and Waste Management, Ball Ground, Georgia.

He proudly served in the United States Army for 10 years as a Petroleum Supply Specialist and was stationed in Texas, Korea, Germany, Iraq and Afghanistan. He was deployed three times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

He grew up spiritually under Bishop Gordon Humphries of Olivet Baptist Church in Oakland, California, and Pastor Samuel Williams of Trinity Baptist Church in Oakland, California. While attending West Mt. Horeb Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas under Pastor Billy Matthews, he served as assistant to the pastor, a Sunday school teacher and the men's choir director. While attending St. Stephen's Baptist Church in Temple Hills, Maryland, he served as an armor bearer for Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr., who at the time was the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship (FGBCF) DC State Bishop; sang in the Kingsmen Men's Choir and was an active member of the Community Outreach and Missions Ministry, participating in mission trips to Uganda and Ghana, Africa. Most recently, Kirk served as the personal adjutant to the Presiding Bishop of Healing Hurting Hearts Covenant Ministries International (HHHCMI), Bishop Anthony L. Alfred, in Clarksville, Tennessee. He was ordained as a minister on August 10, 2025. Minister Darden was a graduate of Joint College of Bishops, Adjvant course, class of 2025, St. Louis, MO.

Kirk was a huge James Brown fan, University of Alabama Roll Tide fan, a dynamic dancer and an avid baseball player. In his younger years, he played on the Oakland Athletics AA Farm Club baseball team. He also played on the 9th MSC Fort Shafter, Hawaii and Fort Belvoir, Virginia softball teams. In high school, he was co-founder of a dance group called Fresh Boyz International (FBI) in Oakland, California. The dance group participated in local contests throughout the Bay Area and also danced with artists such as MC Hammer, Too Short, Digital Underground and Sir Mix-A-Lot during concerts for the Budweiser Super Fest and music videos. In 1989, the group changed their name to Fine, Black & Intelligent and was selected to appear in a Pepsi commercial entitled “A Generation Ahead.”

He was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Ioni Darden; a granddaughter, Danae Darden; his grandfather, Esaw Rueben Darden, Sr.; his grandmother, Thelma Darden and one fur baby, Fergie.

Kirk leaves to cherish precious memories his loving wife, Ashshanae Chew-Darden, Clarksville, Tennessee; four daughters: Jamillah Watson, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Jamicia Richardson, Oakland, California, Lorren Thomas, and Legend Beard; two sons, La'marrius Beard, Sr., and La'travius Beard, all of Tuscaloosa, Alabama; 17 grandchildren; two brothers: Vincent Ealy, Oakland, California and Eric Smith, Los Angeles, California; one sister, Courtney Williams, Las Vegas, Nevada and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.