Lucille J. Durham

Our mom, Lucille J. (Johnny) Durham was born December 21, 1933, to Thomas Adam and Stella (Owens) Johns in Junction City, Kentucky. She was the second child, and oldest daughter, of nine children. Junction City was her home until 1950, when she met and married our dad, Richard Marion Durham. They were married on June 17, 1950. They were later sealed in the Washington, D.C. temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Lucille spent most of her working career in data processing. She was employed by Continental Air Filters, American Standard Air Filters, and retired from Sts. Mary and Elizabeth Hospital (now called U of L Health Mary and Elizabeth Hospital). After retirement, she worked at Iroquois Day Care.

Lucille was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and held many positions in the Primary and Relief Society.

Most of Lucille’s life was as a working mom, but that didn’t keep her from hobbies and passions. One huge passion was shopping! She indulged in that passion in the fabric store. Lucille was a gifted seamstress. She made dresses for herself that rivaled clothing found in upscale department stores. She would take a simple dress and turn it into a masterpiece with some embroidery and ribbon. Many, many times, an outfit or a costume or a dance dress was needed last-minute. Mom would have it done in no time! While patterns were a staple in her hobby, Lucille could also create dresses and nightgowns using only a little math and some imagination. And, man! Did she love shopping! Any excuse—or no excuse!—would send her to “the store.” Lucille also loved crafts of every kind. If a craft was made from ribbons, flowers, pretty-patterned material, and used cookie tins, Cool Whip containers, or basic hair clips, Lucille was on it. If it was ceramic and needed dry-brush painting or glazing and firing, Lucille would make it. There are Christmas nativities and cute little ornaments cherished today that were made by Mom. Has it been mentioned that Lucille loved shopping? Well, she did. And Home Shopping Network loved her. Lucille also was a collector. She loved the unique and delicate and flowery. Over the years, her home has been filled with beautiful swung-glass vases and milk glass decorative pieces, flowery, showy teapots and teacups, and angels of all sizes and designs. One of the biggest passions Mom had was flowers. While the vegetable garden was Dad’s domain, the flowers were Mom’s. And whatever she put in the ground grew and flourished, from roses of all varieties to mums of every color and shape to the most magnificent irises. She definitely had the quintessential green thumb. And, along with all of these interests and passions, Mom loved shopping.

Lucille is preceded in death by her parents and seven of her siblings; her husband, Richard, and sons, Richard Jr.(Ricky), Darryl Ray, and James Thomas; and her granddaughters, Casey Lynn Hall and Tiphanie Noel Durham. She is survived by her children Dennis LaVoyce, Edward Alan, Patricia Faith(Chuck) Beckstead, Robert Bruce, Jonathon Dwayne, and Angela Marie Booker; her brother, Raymond Anthony, and a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

We deeply mourn the loss of our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister. But we know she is at peace. Til we meet again, Mom.

A memorial service will be held Friday, October 23, 2026, at Evergreen Funeral Home, 4623 Preston Hwy Louisville, KY 40213, beginning at 2:00pm. Visitation will begin at 1:00pm.