Obit: Mattie Elizabeth Durden; Bossier Parish, La. Submitted by: Kay McMahan-Noska** Source: Bossier Banner New - Oct. 1970 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** ~End of an Era~Miss Mattie Elizabeth Durden~ Miss Mattie Elizabeth Durden , who retired to her home in Old Bellevue 18 years ago after a 50 year career as a Nurse, passed away Wednesday, October 28, 1970. She was the last ancestor of Andrea Newsome Durden who settled here in 1849. A dynamic Huguenot Frenchman, Andrea Durden was headed from Macon, Georgia to the gold fields of California. They stayed in Old Bellevue, then a stage coach stop, for the night. Struck with the beauty of the countryside and the growth of the bustling community of Bellevue, they decided to take advantage of the Homestead Law, just enacted, and settled at what is now known as Durden's Ferry. Andrea Durden carved a 2,000 acre plantation, which was self sustaining, out of the wilderness and red clay of Louisiana. He became a member of the legislature and help create the laws of Louisiana. During the Civil War he served gallantly with General Lee in Virginia, and returned home to find his plantation intact due to the cleverness of his son, George Washington Durden, and the loyality of his slaves, who remained with him as free men on the plantation until they could make their way on their own. The years after the Civil War were bitter, but this tenacious family struggled through maintaining their holdings to this day. Miss Mattie Durden, one of the last of our colorful post Civil War history, and the example of the courage and grit we Southerners pride, entered nurses training at the age of thirteen. She graduated from North Louisiana Sanitarium September 15, 1915, being the last to graduate requiring a two year course. She embarked on a career of dedication to her fellow man expressed through caring for the sick both wealthy and poor being estemed by all who knew her. She also served her country in World War I as a medical nurse through the duration of the War at Oglethrope, Georgia. As a beautiful young woman she had many admirers but forsook the glamour offered her to make a home in Shreveport for her aged father, George Washington Durden. During this time a stream of nieces, nephews, and other family members made her home a stepping stone to their careers and lives. This was during the depression years and she was truly an inspiration and guiding light. She was a woman full of fun and laughter and had a host of friends with whom she shared her leisure time and vacation with. They had all passed on at the time of her death. She was also an astute business woman, dealing in real estate and several small businesses. Ever mindful of her family she built a beautiful log house on the site of her Grandfathers plantation home, and there cared for her brother, Ben Welcome Durden, who died in 1958. The house will now be occupied by one of her nephews. Her time was devoted to her patients so that she could not attend church regularly, but there were several well thumbed bibles in her home. The true dedication of a selfless woman who cared leaves us with a deep sorrow at her passing and joy for having known her. As one of her nephews took her for an afternoon drive several weeks ago she said "This is a beautiful world to have to leave." She was interred in the Durden private cemetery ending an era of 121 years of the Durden family name. The South side of the cemetery contains 26 slave graves, their coffins handmade with four brass handles. -- (**My Note- The log home is now "The Northwest Louisiana Wildlife & Aquatic Educational Group")