Obit: George Washington Durden; Bossier Parish, La.



Submitted by: Kay McMahan-Noska

Source: Bossier Banner News- April 1938





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~Well known Citizen of Old Bellevue Dies During Past Week~ 



The entire Bellevue countryside has been saddened by the death of one of 

its old landmarks: Mr. George Washington Durden, born near the site of 

the former town, October 2, 1850, passed to his final reward at 10 

o'clock last Friday night at the Highland Hospital in Shreveport, his 

death being due chiefly to advanced age (88) and failing faculties, 

though prior to his passing pneumonia set in. 

George Washington Durden was the only son of Newsome A. & Becky Young 

Durden, united in marriage in Georgia, but who removed to Bossier Parish 

during 1849.. During the early 1850's his parents removed to a farm 

about 2 miles north of Bellevue and across Bodcau Bayou from the old 

town. There the subject of this brief sketch grew to manhood and there 

resided the greater portion of his life-and the old farm is still owned 

by members of the Durden family. April 29, 1877, he was united in 

marriage to Miss Mary C. Fox, and as a result of this union 11 children 

were born, four of whom survive. They are: Mrs. Pearl Grisby and Miss 

Mattie Durden of Shreveport, and Mrs. Carrie Gregory and Mr. Ben Durden 

of this community. 

The deceased was a member of the congregation of the First Baptist 

Church of Shreveport and at the time of his death had been a Mason for 

about 62 years. His membership in the Masonic Fraternity was with 

Haughton Lodge (formerly Bellevue Lodge) and he was honored by his lodge 

with a Masonic burial. Also, friends of the family proffered many floral 

offerings, profuse in variety of selection and surpassingly pretty in 

their tasteful arrangement. 

Interment was in the old burial place on the Durden farm, first used by 

members of that family, and the hour of burial was about 3 o'clock 

Sunday afternoon. The remains were brought in by way of Bellevue and 

then taken, by hearse, as far as the banks of Bodcau. The stream being 

at high stage, the remains were then transferred by motor boat from the 

lower ferry landing (both named for the Durden's), and it, somehow, 

appeals as fitting that his last ride here on earth should be on the 

bosom of the old stream near which he spent so many years of his life 

and on which he happily passed much of his time. Doubtless he would have 

wished it so. 

The writer had the pleasure of knowing George Durden for many years, 

and certainly he highly esteemed him as a friend. He was a man who was 

widely known , and by all was trusted; by all was known as an upright 

man, a generous neighbor, a kindly and loving husband and father, and a 

man whose recognized friendship was to be prized. He was firm in 

principle, in no sense vacillating, and truly it may be said of him that 

in his passing a man of worth and a friend to be valued has gone from 

our midst. "Peace to his ashes." 

Condolence is extended to all members of the grief-stricken family. Today 

they should bear in thought that he was spared to live on with them to a 

ripe old age and they should also have thought of a life of kindly and 

ennoblig deeds and well rounded out to the last. 

Signed A.S. 

Bellevue, La. April 4, 1938

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