Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 26, 2009 at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church for Darfas H. Martin, 76, of Standard community of Kiln, Miss. who passed away Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at home after a long battle with cancer.

Burial will be in St. Matthew Catholic Church Cemetery under the direction of McDonald Funeral Home.

The Rev. Noel Fannon will celebrate the Mass. Brother Randy Rich of Diamondhead will also speak.

Mr. Martin was a native of Hancock County. Darfas and Merle owned and operated Martin’s Halfway Grocery for 47 years.

He was preceded in death by: his parents, Christof and Lydia Ferguson Martin; brother, Alois Martin; and two sisters, Vibrella Saucier and Afretta Ladner.

Survivors include: his wife of 52 years, Merle; sons, Kirk (Karen) Martin of Madison, Miss., Chris (Deborah) Martin of Kiln, and Scott (Laurie) Martin of Ocean Springs, Miss.; daughter, Penny (Chuck) Clark of Diamondhead; brother, D.J. Martin of Kiln; sisters, Christenia Peterson and Myrdesia Ladner of Necaise Crossing, Miss., and Bernecia Arcement of Kiln; grandchildren: Chrissy Cuevas, Trina Shaw, and Cheramie Martin all of Necaise Crossing, Ryan Martin of Jackson, Miss., Adam Martin serving with the U.S. Army in Iraq, Kayla and Britt Ladner of Diamondhead, Elaine Sumrell of Lebanon, Tenn., and Hunter Williams of Ocean Springs; and great-grandchildren, Tucker and Cooper Shaw of Necaise Crossing.

Visitation will be Friday, September 25, 2009 from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church.

Obituary, register book and driving directions can be found on the internet page, www.mcdonaldfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic Church Building Fund, 27074 St. Matthew Church Road, Perkinston, MS 39573.