Elizabeth Durham NORFOLK - Elizabeth "Gigi" Brandon Durham, beloved wife of John Russell "Jack" Durham and daughter of Lewis Boyd and Sarah O'Neil Atkinson Brandon, died peacefully April 1, 2010 at Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center while in the care of the Bon Secours Hospice Program. A resident of Norfolk since 1940 and a member of Knox Presbyterian Church, she was a native of St. Matthews, S.C., and spent her youth in Laurinburg and Raeford, N.C. Gigi was a 1940 graduate of Queens College in Charlotte and a member of Kappa Delta sorority. During World War II, she returned to North Carolina to teach while her husband served in Europe. Gigi was a full-time substitute teacher at Maury High School and later a docent at The Hermitage Museum and Gardens. An avid gardener, she was a founding member of the Redwood Garden Club. She resided in Edgewater and in 2005 became a resident of Province Place of DePaul. The family extends special thanks to the staffs and caregivers at Province Place of DePaul, DePaul Hospital and Bon Secours Hospice for their kind and loving care. Gigi was predeceased by her parents, husband and sister, Martha Brandon Muench of Fayetteville, N.C. She is survived by her son, John Russell Durham Jr. and daughter-in-law Susan Woodhead Durham of Falls Church, Va.; grandson, Robert Brandon Durham and daughter-in-law Lucy Elizabeth Hansen of Salt Lake City, Utah; and grandson, Capt. Owen Clark Durham, U.S. Army, stationed in Fort Drum, N.Y. In addition, she is survived by nieces, Sally Boyd Muench Butler of Roatan Island, Honduras and Betty Durham Bailey; nephew, Elwood Barrows (Barry) Durham Jr. and wife Ann Stewart-Smith Durham; great-niece, Gillian Lee Durham, all of Virginia Beach; and great-niece, Christin Hope Durham of Arlington, Va. The funeral will be held Saturday, April 10, at 2:30 p.m. in Knox Presbyterian Church, Norfolk. Donations, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to the Hermitage Museum & Gardens 7637 North Shore Road, Norfolk, VA 23505-1730. H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Norfolk Chapel, is handling arrangements. Online condolence may be made at www.hdoliver.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Virginian-Pilot from Apr. 4 to Apr. 8, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Elizabeth Durham

3 Entries

April 9, 2010

Our family has such fond memories of Gigi. Always a lady and such a great sense of humor. She will be missed.

The Pucher Family

Bill & Susanne Dunn

April 5, 2010

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

Janet and Jim Merritt

April 5, 2010

Dear John, Sue and family,
Please accept our deepest condolences. May the promise and hope of the resurrection comfort you as you grieve the passing of Gigi! God Bless!

Showing 1 - 3 of 3 results

Make a Donation
in Elizabeth Durham's name

Memorial Events
for Elizabeth Durham

To offer your sympathy during this difficult time, you can now have memorial trees planted in a National Forest in memory of your loved one.

Funeral services provided by:

H.D. Oliver Funeral Apartments, Inc. - Norfolk Chapel

1501 Colonial Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23517

How to support Elizabeth's loved ones

Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.