Mrs. Christine Petty Durden, 86, of Swainsboro, passed away Thursday, December 28, 2023, at her residence following an extended illness. Funeral services were held Sunday, December 31, at 2 p.m. in the Chapel of Chapman Funeral Home with Pastor John Hancock and Mr. Joey Lamb officiating. The family received friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, December 31, at Chapman Funeral Home. Interment followed in Lamb Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Randy Smith, Kyle Durden, Keith Ostenso, Johnny Allen, B.J. Screws and Kelly Brennan.
Christine was born October 23, 1937, in Kite, to the late Henry Lee Petty and Frances Sheppard Howell. She was a very loving, giving person. Christine loved her grandchildren and reading her bible. She enjoyed watching wrestling, “Dog” the bounty hunter and reality shows. Christine was a fighter. She attended Beacon of Hope Church of God in Swainsboro. Mrs. Durden is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Wilburn Durden; sons, Royce Smith and Lee Durden; brothers, Buddy Petty, Harvey Caraway and Bennett Caraway; and sister, Mamie Caraway Steptoe.
Mrs. Durden is survived by her son, Ralph Smith (Angie) Of Brunswick; daughters, Lynda Becker and Tina Brennan (Kelly), both of Swainsboro; brother, Ben Caraway of Dublin; sister, Mattie Mason of Swainsboro; nine grandchildren; 24 greatgrandchildren; six great-greatgrandchildren; several nieces, nephews and many friends.
