Darlene Wood Clevey

Darlene Wood Clevey entered the loving arms of her Lord on November 19, 2025.

Darlene was like the wind out of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Calm, peaceful, and a quiet knowledge of eternal things. She blessed everyone around her with her cheerful smile, kindness, unconditional love and the prayers she lifted up on behalf of her family, community, church and many friends.

Darlene was from Woolwine in Southwestern Virginia and graduated from Woolwine High School. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond and worked for several companies after finishing her education. Her true passion was service to Christ and ministry to others. Her life’s work began when she married her husband Clayton of 39 1/2 years and started a family. Darlene built a strong family and dedicated herself to Clayton, her children Rachel and Jordan, and her grandchildren.

Darlene was a pillar of strength because she was grounded in Christ. She was the rock of stability that her family and friends could seek out and rely on when things got tough. She was a prayer warrior: She loved to sit in the sunroom of her home in Glen Allen, Va., praying for folks with an open Bible on her lap. She spent every morning listening and filling her soul with God’s Word. Her favorite Bible verse was Jeremiah 29:11-13: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Reminders for a well-lived life adorned Darlene’s walls, such as this one: “Find beauty in everything. There is always something to be grateful for. It is never too late to love.” and this, from Micah 6:8: “Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly.” And this: “With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26.)

Darlene had an adventurous streak, too. She loved thrilling experiences, once paraglided off a mountain in Jackson Hole, Wy. – and on her birthday one year, drove a racecar at 158 miles an hour at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (she inherited the “need for speed” from her uncles, the Wood brothers of NASCAR fame).

Darlene was preceded in death by her father, Euguene Wood, and an infant daughter, Lydia. She is survived by her husband, Clayton Joseph Clevey of Glen Allen, VA.; her mother, Crystal Wood of Woolwine, VA.; her daughter, Rachel Wood Powell, and son-in-law, Chad Allen Powell, of Denver, CO.; her son, Jordan Schweitzer Clevey, and his fiance, Alexa Kathleen Rennie, of Richmond, VA.; two grandchildren, Jackson Schweitzer Powell and Caleb Gregory Powell, of Denver, CO.; her sister, Donna Niemi, and brother-in-law, Doug Niemi, of Jackson, WY.; a nephew, Chad Niemi and Chrissy Pagani, of Miami, FL., and a niece, Cheryl Schaefer and husband Mike Schaefer, and great-nephew, Heath Schaefer, both of Jackson, WY.

A memorial service for Darlene will be held Thursday, December 4 at 5:00 p.m. at Vertical Church, 12025 Gayton Rd., Richmond 23238. A funeral service will be held Sunday, December 7, at 2:00 p.m. at Woolwine Methodist Church, 10205 Woolwine Hwy., Woolwine, Va. 24185. Family will receive friends following the service. In lieu of flowers, please send gifts to the church-planting, missions and outreach ministry of Vertical Church (address above). Online condolences may be made by visiting www.moodyfuneralservice.com.