Nell Marshall Durden

Ruby Nell Marshall Durden, born on February 1, 1930, in Barnesville, Georgia, passed away on December 21, 2025, at the age of 95. She was a devoted, faithful, beloved, and gentle soul who touched the lives of many.

Nell was the widow of Andrew Capps Durden, Jr. and the daughter of the late Mary Ruby English Marshall and Oliver Irvin Marshall. A homemaker by choice, Nell was a former member of Riverside United Methodist Church and was currently a member of Vineville United Methodist Church in Macon, Georgia, where she resided.

During the late 50’s and early 60’s Nell was a runway model for many local department stores. Her love of fashion led her to sewing and tailoring her own clothes and for Susan. When Susan married, Nell made her beautiful wedding dress.

Nell and Cappie traveled the state to attend Andy’s high school and college baseball games. They could always be found in the stands cheering on the team. She was also a great Atlanta Braves fan also.

When her children went to college Nell took a job working as a library assistant with the Bibb County Public Schools to help fund her children’s education.

She found her passion in watercolor painting and received many awards from watercolor societies across the Southeast. She was a member of the Southeastern Watercolor Society, Georgia Watercolor Society and the Kentucky Watercolor Society and Middle Georgia Art Association.

She studied art with Marshall Daugherty at Mercer University, Theresa English and Tony Rice at Wesleyan University.

She also attended many workshops by noted artists always trying to refine her techniques and bringing to the paper new and exciting insights in color and application.

One of her great honors in paintings was to be included in a traveling show for the Kentucky Watercolor Society.

Some of her paintings will be exhibited at her memorial service.

She was an avid gardener who loved working in her yard and planning for next season’s flowers in her flower beds.

She was a devout Christian and a member of the Methodist Church for over 75 years -first at Liberty Methodist, next at Lynmore United Methodist, then at Riverside United Methodist and her final church was Vineville United Methodist.

The family would like to thank Rev. Teresa Edwards of Vineville United Methodist Church for her visits and prayers.

For many years she participated in Vacation Bible School and loved working with the little children.

She left many notations in her Bible and devotional books detailing her thoughts on scripture and life.

She was a devoted mother to Susan and Andy and great friend to all who knew her. She was never heard saying an unkind word about anyone.

The family would like to thank Shaneetra Barkley, Wendy Callaway, Cashaun Barkley and William Harris for their compassionate care of Nell in her last days. Compassus Hospice nurses were a blessing. Thank you all.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan Durden Lemesis, her son, Andrew Capps Durden, III (Terry); grandchildren, Dianne Durden Collins (Joshua) and Julie Durden Grier (Adam); great-grandchildren, Drew Bray, Jackson Grier, Connor Grier and Lillian Grier; and her brother, James I. "Buddy" Marshall (Gloria).

A Celebration of Her Life will be held at Snow's Funerals & Cremations at Macon Memorial Park, located at 3969 Mercer University Drive, Macon, Georgia, 31204, on Friday, January 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM. Visitation will follow the service at the same location. Rev. Creede Hinshaw will officiate. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Methodist Home for Children & Youth, 304 Pierce Avenue, Macon 31204 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Vineville United Methodist Church, 2045 Vineville Avenue, Macon 31204.

Nell's gentle spirit and loving nature will be deeply missed by all who knew her.