Samuel Eugene Durrence, 87, passed away Saturday, June 17, 2023 at Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. Born in Glennville, Georgia on August 18, 1935, Gene was the beloved son of Henry and Frances Marie Burke Durrence and lived on his farm all of his life. He graduated from Glennville High School in 1954, and went on to graduate from Brewton Parker College, where he met the love of his life, the late Lutrell Ward Durrence. After graduating from junior college, he proceeded to begin a three-generation tradition of attending Georgia Teachers College (now Georgia Southern University) where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education.
Gene dedicated his life to farming for many years before establishing and operating Durrence Trucking for over 40 years. He was a hard worker and worked tirelessly to provide for his family. Gene lived a life filled with adventure. He had a love for fishing and a love for riding motorcycles. He was always eager to find the next thrilling ride or cast his line-- always ready for anything that came his way. He loved bluegrass music and always wished he’d done a better job at learning to play guitar.
However, none of his other hobbies thrilled him like spending time with his family. He was a fixture in the bleachers at the local ball fields and in the afternoon pick up line at school. His newest best buddy, Maddox, made the last few years of his life worth living again and he spent countless hours relearning his ABCs and shapes, sharing use of his “question mark” (walking cane), and telling everyone he knew about “that fine baby”.
By all accounts, he was a fair boss to dozens, a great friend, a generous member of the community, an unfailingly devoted husband and father, and the best Papa in the whole world. You could always count on him for anything. He was a good man, and he will be missed every day.
In later years after retirement, Gene was a member of the Bernice Iddins Card Club and the McDonald's Coffee Club with his friends. He was a member of Glennville Free Will Baptist Church and is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Aubrey Durrence; grandson, Kaleb Durrence and wife of 49 1/2 years, Lutrell Durrence.
He is survived by:
Children, Kyle Durrence (Sherri)
Pam Durrence all of Glennville, Georgia
Grandchildren, Tiffany Taylor, Jessica Lynn (Landon), Alex Durrence
Step-grandchildren, Casey and Cole Cooper
Great-grandchild, Maddox Lynn
Several nieces and nephews also survive.
Visitation will begin at 10:00 am, Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at Brannen Family Funeral Services. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 am, Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at the chapel of Brannen Family Funeral Services. Burial will follow in Harmony Church Cemetery.
Care and Services are entrusted to Brannen Family Funeral Services, Glennville, Georgia. "Our Family serving Your Family."