Sara Durham

1926 - 2025

Sara Durham

January 25, 1926 - August 13, 2025

Raleigh, North Carolina - Sara Sudderth Durham, of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2025. She grew up on the family farm in South Georgia, surrounded by acres of peanuts and cotton, where life unfolded slowly.

She was studying Sociology at Shorter College in Rome, Georgia, when she met the man who would become her husband, William ("Bill") Fay Durham. They were married in Atlanta in the fall of 1947.

William joined the U.S. Public Health Service after receiving his PhD in biochemistry from Emory University. Their first posting was to Savannah, Georgia, where their son, Bill Jr., was born. Sara liked living in Savannah because the young family was regularly able to make the 200-mile trip back to the farm to visit her parents.

Later they were transferred to Wenatchee, Washington, where two more sons, Garland and David, joined the family. Sara taught third grade in the local elementary school. Intrigued by her Southern accent, parents used to visit her classroom just to hear her speak.

In 1967 they moved across the country again, this time to Miami, Florida, where Bill directed a laboratory for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In 1974, they relocated to Raleigh, North Carolina.

Sara loved living in Raleigh, where she tended a beautiful garden. Once their children had grown, she and Bill purchased a few investment properties, which Sara managed. Sara was also a member of Chapter I P.E.O., Raleigh, North Carolina, and greatly enjoyed spending time with her P.E.O. sisters.

Sara remained active until her final year and passed away at home, surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband William Fay Durham, her parents Alvin and Grace Sudderth, her brother James Sudderth, and her sister Lynette Sudderth Jackson. She is survived by her brother Alvin Sudderth, three sons (William, Garland and David), three grandchildren (Sara, Daya and David), eight nieces and nephews (Marilyn, Joe, Grace, Marie, Pam, Patty, Kathi and Al) and numerous grand-nieces and grand-nephews. The family expresses deep gratitude to Sara's longtime assistant, Jacqueline Peele.

Services were held on Saturday, August 16, at Raleigh Memorial Park, 7501 Glenwood Ave., Raleigh.