Mary Alice Prince Dargan was called home to be with her Lord and Savior on September 11, 2026. She was born on December 11, 1926 in Florence County, South Carolina. She was the second of six children born to Fleming and Roxanna Prince. During her early years, the family resided in Newport News on Hampton Avenue in the 700 block and later moved to Roanoke Avenue in the 2900 block.

Mary graduated from Huntington High School in 1945 and attended St. Paul’s College for two years, after which she worked at Johnson’s Photo Studio on 25th Street in Newport News. As a young adult, she decided to move to New York with three friends where she got a job at Bloomingdale’s Department Store in Manhattan as a sales associate. In 1952 she had a daughter, Shireen.

After many years in New York, Mary returned to Newport News to care for her ailing parents and to help run the family business, Prince Grocery Store on 32nd Street and Roanoke Avenue in Newport News. She also worked as a Nurse’s Aide at Zion Baptist Nursing Home in Newport News.

Mary joined Sixth Mt. Zion Baptist Temple (SMZBT) under the leadership of Reverend Ivory M. Jefferson at the Kecoughtan Road location in Hampton. She was active in the church as an Usher and Deaconess. Later under the leadership of Rev. Jerome Barber, she continued as a Deaconess and some of you know Deaconess Dargan could be a handful (smile). She helped with the New Member’s Baptism candidates and was a Dream Maker. As a member of the Orange Blossoms, Mary also visited people who were in an assisted living facility and those who were physically unable to attend church. Some of you may not know, but Deaconess Dargan went to Bible Study three times a week when she was physically able to do so, Tuesday mornings at SMZBT, Wednesday mornings with her brother George at Abyssinia Baptist Church in Newport News and again in Wednesday nights at SMZBT.

Deaconess Dargan was preceded in death by her husband Edward Dargan of Florence, South Carolina; her parents, Fleming and Roxanna Prince; four brothers, Sylvester, Raymond, George and James Prince; sister, Lucille Prince Clary and nephew, Raymond Joel (Joe) Prince and niece, Naomi Slater.

She is survived by her daughter, Shireen P. Turner, nephews, James (Jamie) Fleming Prince who resides in California and Everett (Seth) Mealy and niece, Tamatha Prince who live respectfully in Virginia and Missouri. She is also survived by her great nieces and nephews, Danielle who lives in Korea, Arielle, Austin and Brandon Prince who reside in Missouri, Kevin and Darryl Slater who reside in New Jersey, cousins, Sheila and Gayle who respectively live in North Carolina and South Carolina, extended cousins Rossi and Anthony from Pittsburg, PA and Irving Charles who resides in Georgia.

Shireen would like to express her sincere gratitude and appreciation for the many calls and visits she has received during the last few weeks. Special thoughts of appreciation are extended to Dwight Herbin for providing four years of “hands on” support, Tim Reese, the SMZBT Meals on Wheels group (which mom truly enjoyed their visits), the Orange Blossoms, Enhabit Home Health and Hospice, S & J Medical, Peninsula Agency on Aging, Hand N Heart Home Care Services and Hospice of Virginia for their support during her mother’s illness.

Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, September 25, 2026 at Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Temple, 3100 Butternut Drive, Hampton. Viewing will be from 3-6 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026 and two hours prior to the service at the church on Friday. O. H. Smith & Son Funeral Home is honored to serve the family.