How to permanently delete a Facebook account?

[Shay, The Xeon Reverse Engineer]

I'm so over social networks now. I've quit sites like Myspace already. It was easy on there because I wasn't associating with my real life friends anyhow. But I'm having a very hard time quitting Facebook forever. The main problem is that my best friends are on there and we have had thousands of messages and hundreds of pictures that are memorable to me. And I don't really want to lose them but I know I will have to if I plan to have Facebook permanently delete my information and profile.
Should I permanently delete my facebook account? If so, what are some guides....etc that will help me delete it?
I'm somehow try to delete it to prevent the stress, You know. It's a drama-queen. Should I quit it?
Thank you.