Peggy Maria Durden

Peggy M. Durden, 60, of Evansville, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, July 31, 2013, at home surrounded by her loving family. A special thanks to Evansville Cancer Center, Doctor Rick Ballou and staff.

Peggy Maria Durden was born on December 27, 1952, the first of nine children to Hirsch and Jacqueline Stampley. She was a 1971 graduate of Bishop McNamara High School in Kankakee, IL. That year she was selected among the High School Academic Who’s Who of America. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education in three years from Western Illinois University. In 1987 she earned her Master of Education Degree from Indiana State University.

In 1981 Peggy turned her life over to the Lord and was baptized with the Holy Ghost. She was later called to be a missionary spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

In 2010 she retired from Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation after 34 years of teaching. She taught at Harwood Middle School, Culver and Stockwell Elementary Schools.

Peggy held many titles in life, including: former president of the Evansville Reading Council, Director of the Forensics Speech Team at Harwood Middle School and former president and member of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa, Inc. In 2009 she was appointed District Missionary for the Greater Southern District of Indiana’s Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of the Church of God in Christ. She was also secretary, treasurer and Sunday school teacher at Victory Temple C.O.G.I.C. where she was a faithful member up until her death.

Surviving are her loving husband of 36 years, Elder Bruce E. Durden of Evansville; son, Brandon Durden of Honolulu, HI; daughter, Camille (Robert) Williams of Evansville; grandchildren, Kaylyn, Anija, Kalil, Gabriel, Ava and Cameron, all of Evansville; brothers, Michael Stampley of Kankakee, IL and Martin, Melvin and Mark Stampley of Bloomington, MN; sisters, Priscilla Stampley of Kankakee, IL, Penny (Fernando) Higginbottom of Hopkins Park, IL, Pamela (Cliff) Cleggett of Kankakee, IL and Patricia Stampley of Chicago, IL; sister-in-law, Rochelle Durden of Gary, IN; and a host of relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Hirsch and Jacqueline Stampley; and in-laws, Johnnie and Viola Durden.

Peggy’s presence will be missed by all of us left behind. God has called her to a higher service but her spirit will forever be in our hearts.

Services will be Saturday, August 10, 2013, from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM at Memorial Missionary Baptist Church, 645 East Canal Street, officiated by Supt. LeVar St. Germain, with burial in Oak Hill Cemetery. Friends may visit Saturday from 9:00 AM until service time at the church.

Condolences may be made online at www.AlexanderEastChapel.com.