Lillian Durden

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Lillian Gertrude “Trudy” (Duff) Durden, on Friday, September 26th, 2025, in Cumming, GA, at the age of 86.

Lillian was born in Riverside, IL on June 3rd, 1939 to parents Thomas Allen Duff and Lillian Ryan Duff. When she was 12, the family moved to Darien, CT where Lillian graduated from Darien High School. She went on to attend The University of Connecticut, earning a B.A. in History. After graduating, she moved to New York City and worked for Delta Airlines. There she met her future husband Gibson Durden and they were wed on April 24, 1965, in Fishkill, NY. The couple settled in Atlanta, GA, and had two sons, Gib, Jr. and Allen. In 1976, the family moved to Mandeville, LA, where she developed her love of Louisiana cooking.

In 1978, the family moved to Redding, CT, where she was involved in the church, town politics, and substitute teaching, along with raising their two sons. She was a partner in Fuller & Durden Travel Agency, allowing her and Gibson to travel extensively around the world. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, interior design, the arts, and she was a prolific reader.

Lillian was kind to a fault, loving, thoughtful, intelligent, and creative. She was a devoted grandmother, moving to Cumming, GA in retirement to be closer to her grandkids. She had a wonderful sense of humor, including an uncanny knack for impromptu puns. She was beloved and will be dearly missed.

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, T.A. Duff and Lillian Duff; her sisters Lucille and Janet; and her husband of 59 years Gibson. She is survived by her sister, Helen; her 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 Lillian’s memory to The Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta at www.dsaatl.org/give or The World Wildlife Fund at www.worldwildlife.org.