Samuel Durham Sr.

Samuel "Sam" Parks Durham, Sr., age 88, of Harrison, TN, sadly passed away on Monday, November 24, 2025. He was born on August 31, 1937, in Dutton, AL, to the late Samuel Alexander Durham and Elizabeth Vee Newsome. Sam was a born-again Christian who loved the Lord and served as a deacon of his church in his earlier years. He was a loving husband and father who will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Sam was a proud veteran who served as a young man in the United States Air Force and received an Honorable Discharge for his service. Shortly after, he moved his family to Atlanta, Georgia for prospects of better employment. He then became a certified electrician and worked up to maintenance operations management with Georgia Pacific where he retired after 35+ years of service in Atlanta, GA. Once retired, he moved back to Chattanooga, TN where he had grown up as a boy. He later met and married Peggy Joyce Tallent and lived the remainder of his years in the Chattanooga area.

Earlier in his life, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and restoring cars. In his later years, he owned horses and enjoyed horseback riding with his wife, as well as owning beehives and becoming proficient as a beekeeper.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Vee Elizabeth Durham Cummins; and his siblings, Harold Durham, Glen Durham, James Durham, Frank Durham, Christine Durham Abarelli, Pauline Durham Sively, Julia Durham Nichols, Raymond Durham, Barbara Durham House, Virginia Durham Lancaster, and Lawanda Durham Welch.

Sam is survived by his wife, Joyce Durham; sister, Marie Durham Brooks; son, Samuel P. Durham II; daughters, Leetha (Robert) Durham White, Celina Durham Guthrie, Samantha (Chris) Durham Fountain; stepson, Mark (Lauren) Melville; stepdaughter, Windy Jones; grandchildren, Christian (Riley) Cummins, Kara Guthrie Aucoin, Daniel Guthrie, Ethan Thomas and Tyler Durham; step-grandchildren, Madison Melville Dunn, Blake Jones and Brook Jones; niece, Jennifer Davenport and family; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends for a visitation on Saturday, December 6, 2025, from 11:00a.m.-1:00p.m. at Lane Funeral Home and Crematory South Crest Chapel, 833 Chickamauga Ave. Rossville, GA.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 1:00p.m. in the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home with Mark Melville and Tony Guthrie officiating.

Interment will immediately follow at 2:00p.m. CST at Sulphur Springs Cemetery in Valley Head, Alabama.

The family welcomes your condolences and expressions of sympathy and memories online at www.lane-southcrestchapel.com.

All arrangements are by Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, South Crest Chapel, Rossville, Georgia.