Gladys Durrence

Gladys Dowdy Durrence, 90, of Glennville, Georgia died on Monday, August 10, 2015 at Roper Hospital in Charleston, South Carolina. She was the daughter of the late David Dewey Dowdy and Annie Ruie Tootle and Willie Rufus Thompson. Her survivors include: one son, Dr. Hugh Dowdy Durrence (Ellen) of Charleston, South Carolina; her grandchildren: Marty and Christy Walker, Lynne and Juan Walker, and Ann and Doug Hess; her nephews and their spouses: Dr. Bill and Lou Bennett of Cordele, Georgia, Jerry and Susan Dowdy of Wrens, Georgia, Ben Dowdy of Glennville, Georgia, Mike Dowdy of Savannah, Georgia; her nieces and their spouses: Janet and Mark Haworth of Valdosta, Georgia, Judy Burkhalter of Brookhaven, Georgia, Linda and Carl Struthers of Dunedin, Florida, and a sister-in-law, Willie Jo Dowdy of Glennville, Georgia. She loved her husband's brothers and sisters and all of their families: Molly Weathers (Walker), Harris Durrence (Oleta), Horace Durrence (Pearl), Alvo Durrence (Christine), Cyril Durrence (Betty), Elvis Durrence (Carrie), Joyce Todd (Junior), Katherine Baxter (Hillis), and Norma James (Jesse). She is preceded in death by her husband, Willie Hugh Durrence, a brother, Jerry Frank Dowdy, a sister, Mary Joanna Thompson, and a sister and brother-in-law, Leahman and Earl Burkhalter. Special Friends: Tom and Mary Young.
Ms. Durrence graduated from Glennville High School and then completed Draughn's Business College in Savannah, Georgia. She began her career in the civil service at Ft. Stewart in 1943. After World War II, she met and married a career soldier, Willie Hugh Durrence on February 22, 1948. She and Willie started their life together at Fort Lee, Petersburg, Virginia, where they added one son, Hugh. They returned to Glennville in 1960. Ms. Durrence returned to Ft. Stewart where she rose to chief of Military Pay Section of Finance and Accounting, finishing her career in 1991 after 43 years. She was respected and loved by her fellow co-workers and the Army personnel that she had the distinct privilege to serve. She supported and loved all of her family for all of her life until her health failed her. She was a Christian and a devoted member at Cornerstone Bible Church of Glennville, where she and her husband were founding members. She along with her sisters, brother, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law helped to mold the hearts of all the family.
The family will receive friends at Brannen-Kennedy Funeral Home in Glennville, Georgia on Thursday, August 13, 2015 from 10 until 11 AM followed by the funeral service in the Chapel of Brannen-Kennedy Funeral Home at 11:00 AM with Rev. Winston Beasley officiating. Interment will follow in the Glennville City Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Cornerstone Bible Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 598 Glennville, Georgia 30427 or The Friends of the Glennwanis Hotel, 134 S. Veterans Blvd., Glennville, Georgia 30427.
Pallbearers will be Clint Durrence, Marty Walker, Conrad Haworth, Dalton Dowdy, Tom Young, Bernie Weaver.
Brannen-Kennedy Funeral Home, Glennville Chapel, in charge of the arrangements.