Jim “Fred” Durden of Soperton, Georgia passed away on Tuesday afternoon, March 12, 2024 at the age of 88.
Jim “Fred” Durden was born in Soperton, Georgia on April 18th, 1935 to his parents, Mary Elisabeth Toler Bussell and Lewis Cogle Durden. He was the youngest of seven siblings, all of which pre-decease him. At the age of 15, Fred moved to Hollywood, Florida, the city where he met his wife, Joyce Bonsdale Durden. They married in 1956. He served in the U. S. Army from 1957 – 1959. He was a master carpenter, working for Broward Marine Shipyard in Fort Lauderdale, Florida for 22 years.
In 1977 he moved back to his home State or Georgia. He and his wife were small business owners of the Vidalia Vacuum and Fabric Center. They continued working together in this enterprise until he retired at the age of 70. In retirement, he and his wife, Joyce enjoyed their time between their lake house on Lake Sinclair and their home in Soperton, Georgia, a home that he built and which was on his family homestead.
Fred Durden is predeceased by his seven siblings, Jessie Durden Kicklighter Smith, Rayford Durden, Mollie Durden Green, Roy Durden, Mary Durden Hutcheson, Laura Durden Gillis Graham and Trudy Ann Durden Hooks.
Left to cherish his memory are, his beautiful and loving wife of 67 years, Joyce Bonsdale Durden, their two daughters, Susan Durden (Celia Sunne) of Eatonton, Georgia, Lisa Durden Hammock (Bill Hammock), of Vidalia, Georgia, his two grand-children, Derek Cole Hammock (Sierra Hammock), Hilary Hammock Schofill (Case Schofill) and a great grand-daughter, Eva Grace Schofill.
In loving remembrance of Jim Fred Durden, loving husband, father and grandfather.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Friday, March 15, 2024 in the Williams Chapel of Sammons Funeral Home, Soperton, Georgia with Reverend Milton Thomas officiating.
Mr. Durden will be laid to rest in the family plot in Westview Cemetery, Soperton, Georgia.
His family will receive friends on Friday, at the funeral home, from 10:00 o’clock a.m. until the hour of service.
Serving as pallbearers will be: Herbert Green, Paul Leslie, Luke Kicklighter, Lucky Kicklighter, Billy Richardson and James Crockett.
Please share a memory, leave a condolence message and sign the online guest register book at www.sammonsfuneralhome.com
SAMMONS FUNERAL HOME, Since 1917; Building Relationships and Honoring Memories while Taking Care of You and Your Loved Ones. 912-529-4411 or 478-455-0671
