Reverend George Andrews Duerson

Reverend George Andrews Duerson passed away on March 17, 2021. He was born in Shreveport, Louisiana as the only child of Charles and Louise Chaney Duerson who preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Linda Rawls Duerson; his son Dr. Douglas Duerson (Sharon); his daughter Denise Duerson Sheffield (Joe); his six grandchildren Wesley and Claire Duerson and Jodi, Amber, Ashley and Johnathon Sheffield; great granddaughter Summer Duerson, sister-in-law Diane Brown and nephew Eric Brown (Ann).

George graduated from Byrd High School in Shreveport, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Yale Divinity School in New Haven, and University of Iowa in Iowa City. He became an ordained minister in 1960, and his first appointment was as the Wesley Foundation Director at Northeast Louisiana State College in Monroe, now known as the University of Louisiana at Monroe. This is where he met Linda, who was a student. They were married August 11, 1962, at the Bartholomew Methodist Church near Bastrop, La. Shortly after, George served the Bartholomew-Hughes Chapel Charge.

While getting his Master’s degree in Iowa, he served the Coggan-Silver Creek Charge. Upon returning to Louisiana, he served multiple appointments across the state, including: Lutcher-Laplace, Kenner, Denham Springs, St. Matthews in Metairie, Alexandria District Superintendent, Trinity UMC in Ruston, New Orleans District Superintendent, and Rayne Memorial in New Orleans. Even after retirement in 2000, he served several years as a part time Associate Pastor at Munholland United Methodist Church in Metairie. He also served as a board member of both the Methodist Hospital and the Methodist Children’s Home. Reverend Duerson is remembered by many couples in the New Orleans area for performing their wedding ceremonies and baptizing their babies.

A favorite hobby of his was playing tennis. He was a member of the Byrd and the SMU tennis teams. No matter where he lived, he found a group to play tennis with and after retirement he enjoyed being a member of the City Park Tennis Club. Another passion was traveling the United States and abroad with family and friends.

A book of some of Rev. Duerson’s sermons titled Still Waters Run Deep has recently been published and is available to read or download at www.deepsoulfishing.com

The funeral will be held on Saturday, March 20, 2021, at Munholland United Methodist Church: 1201 Metairie Rd., Metairie, La. Visitation will be from 12-1 and the funeral will begin at 1:00. The interment will be at All Saints Mausoleum. Masks and social distancing are required. In lieu of flowers, donations in Rev. Duerson’s honor may be made to the Methodist Children’s Home of Greater New Orleans - 23515 U.S Hwy 190 Mandeville, La, 70448 https://lumcfs.org/donate/ The online guestbook is available at www.leitzeaganfuneralhome.com.