Polly Phelps Durham

Polly Jean Phelps Durham passed away peacefully on August 28, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 93. She was born November 19, 1931, in Monroe, Louisiana, to Narcissa "Cis" Nadia (nee Jack) Phelps and Joseph Rinaldo Phelps. As an only child, she enjoyed a unique childhood playing in the local neighborhood by the Ouachita River, shooting her pellet gun and fishing with her dad who died unexpectedly when she was only 11 years old. Her family subsequently acquired a piano and her lifelong love of music was born. She became an accomplished pianist and had a beautiful soprano voice. She graduated from Neville High School (Monroe) and matriculated at the H. Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University, majoring in voice in the School of Music. She was a member of the Chi Omega Fraternity, graduating in 1952. She married Max Holmes Durham, Jr. that same year and they settled in Hammond, LA, Max's hometown, where they raised three sons: Joseph, Roger and John. She continued her love of music, singing in the choir of Grace Memorial Episcopal Church (Hammond) and Christ Church Cathedral (New Orleans). A later highlight was cabaret recitals with her friend Mr. Ray Bass, an accomplished pianist.

She and Max moved the family to New Orleans in 1969 where she became active in local organizations there. Highlights included:

- President Newcomb Alumnae Association, 1990-1992.

- Newcomb Alumnae Association Community Service and Loyalty Award, 1994.

- Chair of the Gulf Coast District, New York Metropolitan Opera.

- Past President, Women's Guild of the New Orleans Opera Association.

- Member of The Ruth McEnery Stuart Clan

She and Max loved to entertain and in 1985 she was recognized in the New Orleans Times Picayune newspaper as one of the top 10 hostesses for parties in New Orleans. She noted that "good conversation" is the requisite for a successful party. Anyone that knew her well will certainly remember her appreciation of "a good conversationalist."

A fiercely loyal supporter of her alma mater Newcomb College, she was a co-founder of a group of ladies called "Friends of Newcomb." In 1987 they fought to maintain the identity of Newcomb College as a separate women's college and to prevent a merger of the faculties of Newcomb College and the College of Arts & Sciences of Tulane University.

Polly and Max moved back to Hammond where Max died in 2011. She moved to the Beverly neighborhood in Chicago to be close to her son Joe's family in 2018.

She was preceded in death by her parents, stepfather Roger Crawford White, half-brother James Nicholas White II, stepsiblings Roger Crawford White, Jr., and Dorothy "Dotty" White Wicker, and Max, her devoted husband of 59 years. She is survived by her three sons Joseph (Marianne), Roger, and John (Stacia) whose families include five grandchildren Katherine (Ryan Maki), Daniel (Meghan), Leah (Stephen Flaherty), John "Jack" and Carter, along with five great-grandchildren Charlotte, Max, and Daisy Durham; Maeve Maki and Carter Flaherty.

Her funeral service is scheduled for Friday, September 26, 2025, at 10:30 am at Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Hammond, Louisiana, with burial immediately after in the adjoining cemetery. A reception will follow in the church parish hall. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the scholarship created in honor of Polly's mother, the Narcissa Jack White Scholarship Fund at Tulane University. Visit "giving.tulane.edu/memory" to make an online gift or mail a check to Tulane University. Please indicate that the gift is in memory of Polly Durham and is for the Narcissa Jack White Scholarship.