Stephen Paxson Darlington IV, "Pax," 69, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of Margaret "Beth" Darlington entered into eternal rest Tuesday, March 16, 2021 after a more than 20-year battle with cancer. His memorial service will be held Friday, March 26, 2021 in Mount Pleasant Presbyterian Church, 302 Hibben Street at 11:00 am. Reservations are required. Call (843) 884-4612 or visit www.mppc.net to reserve a seat. Go to "Get Involved" tab and use "Events and Registration." Masks are required. The service will also be available by livestream. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Mount Pleasant Chapel.

Pax was born October 15, 1951 in Miami, Florida, son of the late Stephen Paxson Darlington III and the late Mary Pinckney Darlington. He graduated from Baptist College (now Charleston Southern University) in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Marketing, and soon moved to Columbia, S.C., where he met his wife, Beth.

The two started their family in Atlanta with the birth of their first daughter, and they welcomed two more girls to the family after moving to Greensboro, N.C., as Pax worked in sales for Wang Laboratories. The family moved to Mount Pleasant, S.C. in 1992 as Pax began managing national sales for Life Cycle Engineering.

In 2000, Pax was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, which he fought bravely and quietly for more than 20 years, rarely complaining of the grueling side effects of his treatments. He lived every day for his family and kept them laughing right up until the end with his witty sense of humor.

Pax's positive outlook on life was infectious. He loved to tell stories and make people laugh. He made many friends out of perfect strangers that way. He adored dogs, especially his labradoodle, Divot. He loved to golf, cook, be out on the water, and was famous in the family for his fried turkeys on Thanksgiving.

He enjoyed volunteering at the infusion clinic at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, to keep patients' spirits up as they underwent treatment. Pax was a proud member of the Rotary Club of St. Andrews in Charleston for 26 years. He was a past president and Club Rotarian of the Year (Truluck Award) for two years. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and a Sustaining Member of the Rotary Foundation. While he cherished the charitable and civic causes he helped support through rotary, he especially delighted in causing mischief at their weekly luncheons at Bessinger's Barbecue.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Beth Darlington; daughters, Mary Caroline Darlington of Mt. Pleasant, Amanda Cuddy (Cavan) of Highlands Ranch, CO and Abigail Darlington (fiancé, Taylor Hickman) of Charleston, SC; three grandchildren, Kane Darlington, Knox and Carson Cuddy; sister, Susan D. Harris and nephews Parke Harris and Ramsay Harris all of Mt. Pleasant.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to MUSC Hollings Cancer Center.