Sammy Darwin (Rusty Walker)

James Samuel Darwin, Jr., also known as Rusty Walker, 59, of Iuka, Mississippi, died Monday, May 21, 2012, at the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, MS, as the result of a heart attack. Sammy was an active member of Mt. Evergreen United Methodist Church, where he served in many key church positions. He graduated from Corinth High School in 1971, and went on to become one of the top radio programming consultants in the music industry. Sammy Darwin, also known as Rusty Walker, has either programmed, advised, created, consulted, overseen, served as a strategic partner, or performed as an air personality for more than 750 radio stations since he started his radio career in 1970. He founded Rusty Walker Programming Consultants in 1983. He was honored as one of three of Country Radio’s Greatest Programmers of the Twentieth Century. Billboard Magazine has named Rusty Walker the Country Music Consultant of the Year for seven years in a row, and he was inducted into the Country Radio Hall of Fame in February. He also served as a Director-At-Large in the Country Music Association. Sammy was proud to call Iuka, Mississippi home, and was an active and dedicated member of his community. He was an enthusiastic supporter of the Tishomingo County School System, and volunteered in many civic capacities, including serving as the regular emcee of the Iuka Christmas Parade and as a member of the Iuka Heritage Day Committee Board of Directors. Visitation is scheduled for 4:00 until 8:00 p.m., Friday, May 25, at Mt. Evergreen United Methodist Church*. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 26, at the Tishomingo County High School Gymnasium**. The body will lie in state at the gymnasium from 11:00 a.m. until service time on Saturday. Services will be officiated by Rev. Robert Armstrong and Rev. Ron Norvell. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery. Cutshall Funeral Home of Iuka, MS is entrusted with arrangements. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Teresa Darwin of Iuka, MS; his father and mother-in-law, Jackie and Burnette Bryant of Iuka, MS; two daughters, Nikki Darwin Clark and husband, Nathaniel, of Iuka, MS, and Beth Darwin Huntley and husband, Ryan, of Jacksonville, FL; one brother, Harold Darwin and wife, Jeanette, of Corinth, MS; one sister, Sarah Darwin of Iuka, MS; two grandchildren, McCarthy Huntley and Alexander Clark; a sister-in-law, Lisa Locke and husband, Jerry, of Iuka, MS; a brother-in-law, Keith Bryant of Iuka, MS; and four nieces and nephews, Logan Locke, Carrie Darwin, David Darwin, and Elora Crabtree. He was preceded in death by a son, Jay Darwin; a daughter, Kinsley Darwin; and his parents, Jimmy and Mollie Darwin. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Sammy Darwin/Rusty Walker Memorial Fund, c/o BancorpSouth, P.O. Box 377, Iuka, MS 38852.

*Mt. Evergreen United Methodist Church is located at 253 County Road 244 (the junction of Eastport Road/CR 956 and County Road 244) in Iuka, MS. From Iuka, take Eastport Street to the intersection at the old Corner Store. Go left at the intersection on County Road 956 towards Eastport Marina. The church is located approximately 2 ¾ miles on the left.

**Tishomingo County High School is located at 701 Highway 72, Iuka, MS 38852.