Martha Jean Durham
How do you know Martha? Please share your stories and photos, and help spread the word about this page!
Our family and community lost a beloved member on Sunday, September 25 when Martha Jean Durham of Elizabeth City, NC went home to be with the Lord. Jean lived a fulfilling life as a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, friend, and pillar of her church. She was a shining example of what it means to be God's hands and feet in the community, and she will be remembered by those who loved her as one of the strongest, hardest-working, most-caring women there's ever been. Jean dearly loved her Savior, her family, and her church community. She was also a life-long UNC fan.
Jean was born in Lucama, North Carolina on April 26, 1940 to Berry and Irene Tedder. She excelled in school and was the Valedictorian of her graduating class. She was also co-captain of her high school basketball team for three years, and was appointed to the All-Wilson County team all four years. After graduation, Jean married Bill Durham on September 20, 1958, and their only child, Barry Stephen Durham, was born on January 19, 1960.
Jean held various bookkeeping positions at IBM, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Supak and Sons. From there, she joined the family auto repair and radiator business where she managed the finances and daily operations. She was also the Treasurer for Berea Baptist Church for more than 20 years and was a very active member of her community. Led by her servant-heart, she volunteered with her church, Meals on Wheels, and Albemarle Hospital. She was also president of the Elizabeth City Shrinettes and Auxiliary Fund-raising Chairman of the Pasquotank Providence Volunteer Fire Department.
In recent years, Jean headed the kitchen committee at church and would frequently bake meals and bread for her church family members who were ill or shut-in. She enjoyed spending time with her sisters, especially during their trips to the beach, and visiting with her granddaughter's family. She thoroughly enjoyed watching all of her great-granddaughters' adventures.
Jean is survived by her husband of 64 years, Bill Durham, and her son, Steve Durham, both of Elizabeth City, NC; her granddaughter & grandson-in-law, Jennifer & Jesse Martin, and her great-granddaughters, Ella and Aiden Martin, all of Wake Forest, NC; and her sisters, Mary Capps and Elgie Lamb of Wilson, NC, Laurene Holland of Kenly, NC, and Beulah Ferrell of Raleigh, NC. She was pre-deceased by her mother and father, Irene and Berry Tedder of Lucama, NC; her brother, Selby Tedder of Virginia Beach, VA; and her sisters, Carroll Bass of Kenly, NC and Margaret Garret of Monroe, NC. The visitation and funeral will be held on Wednesday, September 28 at Kenly Funeral Home in Kenly, North Carolina. A visitation will be held at 10:00am immediately followed by the funeral at 11:00am in the chapel. Burial will follow the service at Upper Black Creek Church cemetery in Lucama. An additional memorial service will be held at Berea Baptist Church on October 9, 2022 at 4:00pm.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be given in her memory to Berea Baptist Church, 2033 N Road St, Elizabeth City, NC 27909.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Kenly Funeral & Cremation Service.