The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

WENDY Hanna-Darling, best described as a mother of firstborn sons, was remembered by her family and friends following her passing in Houston, Texas on Sunday, January 26 in Houston, Texas.

Hanna-Darling, 66, was the aunt of Frank Rutherford, the first Bahamian to win an Olympic track and field medal, and mother of Dennis Darling, a member of the first men’s relay team to win a medal at the World Athletics (IAAF) World Relays.

She is also the mother of twin brothers Devard and the late Devaughn Darling, who both went on to excel in football together at Stephen F. Austin High School and Florida State.

After the untimely death of Devaughn in 2001 at a practice session at Florida State, Devard Darling went on to become the second Bahamian to be drafted into the National Football League.

Rutherford, who captured a bronze medal in the men’s triple jump at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, said his aunt was a woman of grace and dignity as he and his cousins brought international fame to their family.

“She has an infectious love of giving and was an overall humanitarian, who lived a full life,” he said. “The biggest gift my aunt, who was born in the Bahamas and wanted to see Bahamians achieve, was potentially a woman, who out of her womb came the first drafted NFL player.

“Today, Devard Darling is still the only Bahamian drafted to play in the NFL. And equivalently, her womb produced a young man, Dennis Darling, was able to be a part of the team that won the Bahamas its first World Championship medal.”

Rutherford, who now resides in Houston where he acts as a scout and coach, said no one likes to lose a mother, especially when she serves as the foundation of her family. He expressed his sympathy to his family members who are left behind to grieve.

Dennis Darling, a member of the men’s 4 x 400m relay team that secured the bronze at the World Championships in 2003 in Paris, France, is this is the most difficult time for him and his family, including Devard and Rutherford.

“My mom meant everything to us,” Dennis Darling said. “It started with Frank, who was the athletic protege of our family. Between Frank and my mom, they were the main sources of my career.

“When Frank wasn’t there to take me out, my mom was there on Cabbage Beach with me to run the sand. I felt that was all I needed to do - run the sand - to get better.”

After she would have come from work, Dennis Darling said his mom made the sacrifice to take him to practice, even when she was tired.

“Words can’t express how I feel bout my mom,” he said. “I believe everybody should love their mom. My mom was a vibrant woman, who couldn’t keep still. She was always on the go. Even after she retired, she had a relentless to keep going. I see where I got a lot of my energy.

“She was everything to me. She was the main source of my career. Between her and Frank, they got me to where I am. She was very proud of me and I took care of her as best as I could. I will always love her.”

Dennis Darling, who also made the 2004 World Indoor Championships and 2004 Olympic Games, went into coaching track and field briefly, is now a supervisor at an oil and gas company in Houston.

Devard Darling, drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft, went on to play for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Texas.

He played up until 2011 and is now in Seattle, Washington where he is a businessman and a proud father of three boys, the oldest of whom he feels will definitely follow his footsteps in the football world.

“She was very loving and very giving,” Devard Darling said. “She sacrificed everything for her children. She truly was a great mother to us and she showed us a lot of compassion.

“We were truly the apple of her eyes and she did everything she could for her kids. I spoke to her often and told her how much I loved her often and my and Dennis made sure that we took care of her and ensured that she didn’t have to worry about anything.”

He said if anybody knows anything about his mother, it ‘s that she loved God and he said he know she’s there with him and Devaughn, who passed away about 18 years ago.

Wendy Hanna-Darling will be laid to rest on Saturday at 10:30 am at the Parkway Fellowship in Richmond, Texas. A memorial service is set for Friday from 6-8 pm at the Sugar Land Mortuary.