Gibson Durden

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Milner Gibson Durden, Sr. of Cumming, GA on December 6th, 2024, at the age of 88. He was born November 12th, 1936, in New Orleans, LA. At the age of seven his family moved to Atlanta, GA. He attended North Fulton High School where he was a star on the football team, earning a scholarship to The University of Georgia. He went on to earn an MBA at the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

In 1963 he moved to New York City where he met his future wife, Lillian “Trudy” Duff. In 1965 they were married in Fishkill, NY and moved to Atlanta, GA to start a family. They settled in Sandy Springs, where sons Gib, Jr. and Allen were born, and soon moved to Brookhaven.

Gibson began a successful sales career with Kerr-McGee. In 1976, he took a job with the Olin Corporation and the family moved to Mandeville, LA. He was quickly promoted to Sales Executive at Olin’s corporate headquarters in Stamford, CT, and they moved to the nearby town of Redding in 1978. He finished his career with Chemical Waste Management, Inc. He retired at the age of 57, and he and Trudy moved to Ponte Vedra, FL. He embarked on an enduring battle with the game of golf, counting two hole-in-ones to his record.

He took his family on frequent ski trips and summer getaways. On long car trips, he would keep his sons entertained by reciting his library of limericks. He was a fixture on the sidelines as the team photographer for his sons’ football games. He never missed a game, once even delaying a critical surgery so he wouldn’t miss Allen’s senior season. Summer afternoons were spent playing all-time quarterback for Gib and Allen’s epic backyard football games. Gibson and Trudy partnered in a successful travel agency, where Trudy worked, allowing them to travel the world. An avid photographer, Gibson produced a veritable gallery of stunning photographs from their travels to New Zealand, the Alps, and on Safari, not to mention their back yard in Redding.

In Florida, he and Trudy renovated and re-sold several homes in the area. They renovated a house on Lake Chatuge in NC, where they spent part of the year entertaining friends, family, and grandchildren. In his later years, he followed Trudy to Cumming, GA to be closer to their grandchildren.

Gibson was an avid photographer, guitarist, bird lover, and one of the all-time great story tellers. He was beloved by his friends. Everywhere he went, he made an ever-expanding circle of dear friends. He loved bluegrass music and played it, appropriately, on his prized Gibson guitar. He was a lifelong Georgia Bulldogs football fan.

Gibson was preceded in death by his parents, Dawson and Mary Durden. He is survived by his wife of 59 years Trudy, his brother Dawson, his son Gib, Jr. (wife Jennifer), their children Katie and Gibby, and son Allen.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to The Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta.