Stanley Robert Durden

STAN DURDEN OBITUARY

Stanley “Stan” Robert Durden, age 74, passed away on February 1, 2021, in Athens, Georgia. Stan was born in Athens on March 6, 1946. He was the son of the late Margaret McCannon and Phillip Hue Durden, Jr., whose family owned the Durden Music Store in Athens for over 60 years. Stan graduated from Athens High School and then attended the University of Georgia, where he attained a bachelor’s degree with honors in business administration and lettered in Baseball. In college, Stan was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity, as well as Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. He attended the University of Georgia School of Law, graduating in 1972. He practiced law in Athens until 1978, when he became the first Public Defender for the Piedmont Judicial Circuit, which encompassed Banks, Barrow and Jackson Counties. He served in this position until 1983, when he left to attend Asbury Theological Seminary. He graduated from Asbury in 1986 with honors and became pastor of Emmanuel Interdenominational Church in Decatur, Ill. He faithfully served that church until the Fall of 1987, when he returned to Athens to care for his ill mother. After her death, Stan returned to the practice of law where he continued to share his deep and abiding faith in the Lord with clients, people in the courtroom, and everyone with whom he came into contact.  Stan was a member of the Western Circuit Bar Association and admitted to practice law in the State and Federal courts of Georgia, including the Supreme Court of the United States.

While growing up in Athens, Stan participated in youth league baseball, earning the opportunity to play on teams winning three State Championships. After his playing days, Stan continued his involvement in youth baseball as a coach and volunteer. Later, Stan became an avid golfer and was a member of Jennings Mill Country Club.

Stan was a faithful member of Cornerstone Church in Athens, after transitioning from Grace Fellowship Church in Watkinsville. Stan was a teacher of the Gospel and taught a variety of weekly Bible study classes. He also served in the Athens Emmaus Community and the Mountain Top Emmaus Community in Hayesville, N.C.  In addition, Stan traveled abroad to minister and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, including trips throughout England, Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda. In his travels, Stan had the opportunity to teach other preachers and always remarked about how his students were so attentive and their faith in Christ was so incredible. These students believed in the Word of God like children - how they received it, believed it, and accepted the blessings, healings, and miracles of God. Stan hoped that the people of America could one day do the same and truly believe the depth of God’s love for each of us.

Stan is survived by his wife, Cheryl, his son, Stanley Robert “Rob” Durden, Jr (Holly) of Jacksonville, Fl.; his son-in-law Bruce Watson of Lilburn, Ga.; stepdaughter Tamela Denise Phillips (Kristopher) of Clarkesville, Tenn.; stepson James Payne (Lisa) of Mableton, Ga.; stepdaughter Angela Morris of Marietta, Ga; and stepson, Nathan English of Clayton, Ga. His surviving grandchildren are Jessica, Brayden, Parker, Elijah, Benjamin, Logan, Elianna, Chloe, Olivia, and Ila and Jillian.  Stan was preceded in death by his daughter, Kimberly Paige Watson. He loved all his children and grandchildren whether they were natural or stepchildren/grandchildren.

Services will be held at Cornerstone Church of God on Lexington Road in Athens, Ga. on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at 2:00 p.m.  It is requested that instead of flowers, donations may be made to Red Rock Ministries at P.O. Box 5143, Athens, Ga. 30604. Proceeds of all donations will be shared between the Emmaus School for Children of Eldoret, Kenya, where he spent many hours helping children of widows and widowers and the East Africa Bible College in Eldoret, Kenya, where he taught pastors to lead their congregations closer to the Lord.