Mary Durham

Funeral Services for Mary P. Durham, 83, of West Monroe, LA, will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, June 27, 2020, in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe, with Rev. Michael Wood and Dr. Woods Watson officiating. Interment will follow in Wilhite Cemetery in Point, LA.

Mrs. Durham was born May 27, 1937 and passed away June 22, 2020.

Sassy, spunky, fun-loving, more than a little crazy and not afraid to speak her mind, Mary would give you the shirt off her back, along with her last dollar, without a second thought and never expected anything in return. You never knew what she was going to say next or what stunts she would pull and oh how she loved to laugh. She laughed in such a way that she would have others laughing just from watching and hearing her laugh. Throughout the years she loved to travel, dance with her Cajun Connection dance group, cut up with her beloved Senior Center Broadway Wannabes, spending time with her family and her special group of friends, and loved to talk on the phone, especially to her Partner-in-Crime, Joan Parker. She loved spontaneity and having fun but most of all she deeply loved her Lord, church and her family and friends. She adored her three granddaughters, but it was her six great grandchildren that made her life truly complete.

She was known by many names: Mary, Sis, Matilda, Minnie (Pearl), Aunt Mary, Mom – but the one she cherished most was Memaw. She just recently revealed that when she was 12 years old and the teacher asked her full name, she had to go home and ask because she’d never heard anything but “Sis” and was so upset when she found out her actual name was Mary Matilda, after her mother and grandmother. Anything but Matilda! No matter what name she was known by, she was truly one of a kind and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry W. Durham; father, Alva V. Pilgreen; mother, Mary Tidwell Pilgreen; sister, Alma M. Hayes; and brother, Vince L. Pilgreen.

Survivors include her daughter, Teresa D. Chapman and husband Truman; her beloved granddaughters, Kaycee M. Wood and husband Doug, Whitney L. Richardson and husband Nick; special granddaughter, Corye L. Chapman; her precious great grandchildren, Nick, Avery and Jack Wood, and Mattie, Bryce and Levi Richardson; brothers, Robert C. Pilgreen and Ervin W. Pilgreen and wife Helene; numerous special nieces, nephews and cousins; and a very special group of friends who know who they are.

Pallbearers will be Doug Wood, Nick Wood, Nick Richardson, Sam Roberson, Wayne Prewitt, and Roy Shivor.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., Friday, June 26, 2020, at Mulhearn Funeral Home, West Monroe. During this time, due to capacity requirements, we ask that you express your condolences to the family in a short and timely manner so that everyone may have the same opportunity.

Memorials may be made to Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, West Ouachita Senior Center, Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter, or River Cities Humane Society for Cats.