Phillip Rayford "Ray" Durden

Celebration of Life services are scheduled for Saturday, July 10 at 11:30 AM in the chapel at Robert Barham Family Funeral Home with Brother Jim Wall officiating.  Burial will be at Magnolia Cemetery immediately afterwards with Brother Troy McPherson officiating. Mr. Durden, age 80, of Meridian, MS peacefully entered into His Savior’s arms in the early hours of July 2, 2021 at Bedford Care in Marion, MS.

Ray was born February 23, 1941. He was a true Southern gentleman to all who knew him - gentle in spirit, kind, and loving.  He grew up in the Mobile area and attended CF Vigor High School, Pritchard, AL. His family moved to Butler and he graduated from Butler High school in 1959. At Butler he was voted “Most Intelligent” in his graduating class. At Vigor his peers report that he was known as “Best All-Around Athlete” for pitching many no-hitters baseball games. He received a one-year scholarship to Sewanee: The University of the South in Tennessee. Following his baseball dream he was a “walk on” pitcher for University of Alabama.  Once during practice Ray stepped aside in the batting cage, so Bear Bryant could take a swing.  After striking out, Bear said he would “just stick with football.”

Since Ray’s family had moved to Butler, after college he went to work with his father at Georgia-Pacific, in Pennington, AL.  Ray worked from the ground up, packing boxes, and learning various skills in the mill.  He was smart and driven.  In 1969, he moved to Halsey, OR to help start the mill operation there.  He went to night school and earned his Engineering degree.  Ray was asked to return to Pennington in 1985 to oversee their Number Seven project.  Ray developed a worldwide patent known as the Durden Shoe Press, which is still used world-wide today.  Ray retired from Georgia Pacific in 2006.

Ray enjoyed traveling extensively with the love of his life, Genie, having been to over 43 countries and all 50 states during their marriage and retirement. An avid golfer, Ray won many trophies, but his greatest hobby was woodworking and restoring furniture.  He is well known for making tea boxes and jewelry boxes. Ray built cabinets for their beautiful home. Ray and Genie are faithful members of Central United Methodist Church and the Russell Walton Sunday School Class.  Prior to Covid, they graciously hosted seniors (of all ages) for their annual Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day dinners at the church.  Ray became a faithful Gideon servant and especially loved going to MS State Penitentiary (Parchman Farm) to minister to inmates there.

Ray is survived by his wife of 27 years, Eugenia “Genie” McPherson Durden.  Ray also leaves his three precious daughters. Linda (Ron) Belue of Centerville, AL; Donna (Tim) Black of Brownsville, OR; and Leigh (Tim) Hill of Meridian, MS.  Ray has five grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Donald Cargill, Jennifer (Ronnie) Garcia, Stephanie (Gregg) Williams, Adrienne Hill, Brooklyn Hill, and Raelee Cargill.

Ray is preceded in death by his parents, Phillip and Bertha Carroll Durden, a brother, Donald Durden and an infant sister, Linda Joyce Durden.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to The Gideons International - https://sendtheword.org/?fbclid=IwAR1se7epBIWGhcYEPai-cHckNtVsKPa_1m6divKq7aHxAAFux5TK9flzibw .

Pallbearers will be: Donnie Cargill, Paul Goldman, Elio Green, Todd Kiefer, Mac McPherson, and Brother Troy McPherson.

Honorary Pallbearers: Stella Lee, “Jug” Adams, Ron Belue, Tim Black, Tim Hill, Wilbon Davis, Edwin Downer, Keith Hogancamp, Bill Jacob, Jim McRae, and Jim Wall.

Family and friends are welcome to sign the online guestbook at robertbarhamffh.com.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.