06/15/2026
Now is as good of a time as any to let you know a little bit about us.. a little bit of why or what started us on this journey. The meaning and inspiration behind the name.
Darnell & Sons LLC – Built on a Name, Built on a Legacy
Darnell & Sons LLC is more than a business name to me—it’s a continuation of something that was built long before I ever picked up a hammer.
My dad, Billy Joe Darnell, was self-employed for over 35 years. In Ray County and the surrounding area, many knew him through Darnell Guttering, a business he built from the ground up with nothing but his own two hands, his work ethic, and his reputation. He earned everything he had the hard way—and he carried himself with pride in every job he ever did.
But to me, he wasn’t just a businessman or the gutter guy. He was my dad. He was my best friend.
I don’t just hold on to one memory of him—I hold on to all of them. Every lesson, every job we worked together, every moment that shaped who I am today. In our home, our last name meant something. It stood for integrity, pride, and doing things the right way even when nobody was watching. That matters.
But to us… it was more than that. A lot more than that.
It wasn’t just values we lived by—it was who we were to each other. It was our bond, our understanding, and something that didn’t need to be explained to anybody else to be real.
There are those who knew him, and had the honor of truly knowing the man he was. And then there are those who were less fortunate—who never had the chance to meet him, shake his hand, or understand the kind of man Billy Joe Darnell really was. If you knew him, you don’t forget him. And if you didn’t, I wish you had.
We had a saying—just two words—but it meant everything: “home team.”
Once it was said, that was it. No explanation needed. It meant we were solid. It meant loyalty, bond, and family that couldn’t be broken. There ain’t nothing stronger than the home team. Nothing. We were it—together.
Losing him was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through. But what he built didn’t end with him. It lives on.
That’s where Darnell & Sons comes from. “Darnell” isn’t just me—it’s him. And I am the son of Darnell.
It’s not just a hammer I’m swinging on these jobs… I’m swinging HIS hammer on every job.
I may not be in the guttering business yet, but every time I work, I feel like he’s right there with me. Every job I take on, I take on with the same pride he built his name on. My goal is simple—to honor his name through my workmanship and build something he would be proud of.
Billy Joe Darnell will never be forgotten. His name, his work, and his legacy lives on through me. And one day, I hope I get the chance to pass that same legacy on to my sons.
Thank you to everyone who supports us on this journey. This isn’t just work—it’s carrying a name forward.
— Darnell & Sons LLC
