Mary Sue Durden

Mary Sue Durden, 78, of Albany, GA passed away Monday, November 20, 2023 at her residence. Funeral services will be conducted Friday, November 24, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Albany First Free Will Baptist Church. Rev. David Postlewaite will officiate. Interment will follow on Saturday, November 25, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Mt. Olive Primitive Baptist Church in Aline, GA.

Born in Metter, GA, on January 25, 1945, Mrs. Durden graduated from Metter High School in 1965 with a Cosmetology license. She and her husband, Wiley P. Durden, were married on December 25, 1963, and over their 60 year marriage they were blessed with 3 children, 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. She and Wiley moved to Albany in 1967 and have been faithful members of First Free Will Baptist Church since 1968 where she has served in numerous areas over the years including Nursery Director, CTS Director and "Recycled Teenagers" (Sr. Adult Ministry) Director.  They are also members of the Knighton Sunday School Class.

Mrs. Durden was saved in 1968 and since then has grown in her love for the Lord and has become a strong prayer warrior.  Known by many names, including Mimi, Mamaw, and Aunt Mary Sue, to everyone she met, she was also known as a kind friend and a confidant. Among her pastimes were cultivating the roses, gardenias and dogwoods in the yard, but her greatest enjoyment came from spending time with the grandkids and great-grandkids.  She had a heart for hospitality, and this was often demonstrated through food. Whether it was peaches, fresh eggs, garden peas, corn, squash, watermelons or 16 layer cakes, she was always sharing with everyone.

She was predeceased by her parents, Rufus T. Hendrix and Johnnie Jewell Johnson Hendrix, sister, Margie Emanuel and a grandson, Marc Durden.

Survivors include:  her husband, Wiley P. Durden (Albany, GA); her children, W. Kirk Durden and wife, Tonda (Keystone Heights, FL), Kimberly Murphy and husband, Michael (Albany, GA), and Kathy Thomas and husband, Justin (Alma, GA); her brother, Omar Hendrix (Ft. Lauderdale, FL); grandchildren, David Durden (Melissa Wertheimer), Daniel Durden (Sharee Kaisharis), Matthew Durden, Mary Ann Bruner (Bryan), Mason Murphy (Ashlyn), Cadence Thomas, Coleman Thomas, Nash Thomas and Preston Thomas; and great-grandchildren, Brooke Bruner, Blayke Bruner, Bentleigh Bruner, Braelynn Bruner, Mina Joan Kiasharis-Durden, Hazel Shira Joy Wertheimer, Wiley Murphy.

The family will receive friends Friday, November 24, 2023 at Albany First Free Will Baptist Church from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral hour.