LORENE DARNELL HOUSTON, a resident of Memphis, former Fayette Countian and wife of the late John L. Houston, died at 4:45 P.M. Tuesday, June 17, 2008 at the Signature Health Care Center in Memphis where she had resided for four years. She was 94 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Funeral services for Mrs. Houston were conducted at 2 P.M. Thursday, June 19th at Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Rev. Kenneth Hodnett, Pastor of the New Life Baptist Church in Memphis, officiating. Interment followed in the Macon Cemetery at Macon, TN. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Home-West Chapel of Oakland.

Mrs. Houston was born June 24, 1913 in the Michie Community of McNairy County, TN., the daughter of the late Thomas S. Darnell and the late Bonnie Hardin Darnell. She moved at an early age to Fayette County and was educated in the Fayette County Public School System. Mrs. Houston was a homemaker throughout her life and was the wife of the late John Laverne Houston of Fayette County who died in 1970.

Mrs. Houston had been a resident of Memphis for a number of years and will be remembered by her family and friends for her keen sense of humor. She loved her red rocking chair that was a part of her life for many years, enjoying visiting with family and friends and sharing her homemade teacakes with all that came to visit. Chocolate candy and Pepsis were her favorite delights.

Survivors of Mrs. Houston include two daughters, Linda Matthews of Memphis and Joan M. Long of Byhalia, MS; three sons: John T. Houston of Springfield, MO; Bobby W. Houston of Bartlett and Larry L. Houston of Bolton; her grandson whom she raised, Gene Houston of Milan; two sisters, Gladys Laberto of Sun Valley, CA and Dorothy Easterguard of Sun City, CA; twenty-four grandchildren and a number of great and great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by five children: Junior Houston, Dorothy Pruitt, Donald Houston, Freddie Houston and Anita Sykes.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were John Matthews, Michael Matthews, Jimmy Matthews, Bobby Houston, Mike Houston and Eric Clark.

The family request that Memorials be directed to the charity or organization of the donor�s choice.