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Note: EULOGY LUTHER ANDERSON DURHAM
Luther Anderson Durham was born near a small community called "OakGrove", Tennessee on March 16, 1900, and died December 21, 1989. Hewas 89 years, 7 months and 5 days old.
He is survived by his children; Juanita Kathleen Boyson, Wilma MaxineCallahan, Robert Glen (Pete) Durham, Elegeva Fern Burton, Gerald KeithDurham, Darlene Dean and two step-children; Richard Fern and LeonaKoroch, 26 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, two brothers- Carroland Lloyd Durham and a sister Willie McCoin, numerous nieces andnephews in Tennessee and Florida.
Luther was one of 11 children born to James Granville and Mattie AnnShearon Durham. All but two brothers and one sister preceded him indeath. One brother still lives at the old home place that he, hisparents, older brothers and sisters moved into in 1906.
Luther married Ruby Jane Brizendine (sister of Harold and HarveyBrizendine) on September 9, 1921. To this union was born eightchildren. Juanita, Maxine, James, Robert, Gerald, Elegeva and aboy(?) and girl who died at birth.
Ruby died in November of 1942 and son James in October 1959. LutherMarried Dorothy Fern on December 7, 1944 and they had a daughter,Darlene Dean. Dorothy was already blessed with two children; LeonaKoroch and Richard Fern.
Luther's father, Granville, his brother John, his sister Minnie and anunnamed infant died during the 1918 flu epidemic. The rest of thechildren rallied around grannie Mattie (as her grandchildren calledher) and made a meager living by farming. They grew blackeyed peas,wheat, corn, tobacco and raised cattle.
After Juanita was born, Luther took his wife and daughter toIndianapolis, Indiana, and worked on the railroad. But farming, ahost of friends and relations beckoned him back to Tennessee. So,after Maxine was born, the four of them moved to a farm on the "Pike",near where Grannie Matt lived. James and Robert were born at thisfarm. Luther raised strawberries, corn and tobacco.
One of Juanita's earliest memories of her father was how proud andgrown-up she felt when her father let her hold the reins of the horsesas they pulled the wagon loaded with strawberries on the way tomarket.
Then they moved to Ruby's father's farm near Sulphuria, where Elegevaand an infant who died at birth, were born. At this farm there weretwo steam engines. The children and their visiting cousins from thebig city would sit beside Luther and he would let them pull the ropethat caused the steam whistle to blow. We would sit by our Dad withfear and excitement as the engine hissed and rumbled.
In 1935 the family moved to Tucson, Arizona where the family operateda gas station and tourist court on Route 66.
In 1937, the family moved to Modesto, California. Shortly afterarriving, another infant was born and died. Luther worked for T.C.Tunson in concrete pipe and bridge construction. After T. C. sold hisbusiness to Harvey Brizendine, Luther worked many, many years forHarvey. Even after Luther and Dorothy married he contined peachfarming and dairying, on the side.
About 25 years ago, when Darlene was ready for high school, he movedhis family out in the country, near Jamestown, California. Dorothydied August 1, 1973, after a long illness. Luther cared for herseveral years before her death. He continued to live in the sameplace and his daughter Darlene, who lived nearby, looked in on himuntil 1986 when his daughter, Maxine, moved in and cared for him untilthe last two weeks of his life.
Luther never got over his love for farming. He always had a biggarden until he got so feeble he couldn't care for it, then he would,everyday, hobble to the garden and watch the plants grow that hisdaughter planted in his garden.
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