Obituaries: Talitha McIlwain Durham, 1937, Winn Parish, LA
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: February 12, 1937 Winn Parish Enterprise

Winnfield's Oldest Citizen Is Claimed By Death Tuesday

Mrs. Talitha McIlwain Durham, Succumbs to Long Illness

Mrs. Talitha McIlwain Durham, age 91, widow of the late James L. Durham and
member of one of the pioneer families of this section died at her home here
Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock following an illness of several years.

Funeral services were held at the First Baptist Church Wednesday afternoon at
three o'clock conducted by the Rev. Dr. B. C. Land, pastor, the Rev. Alwin
Stokes, pastor of First Presbyterian Church and the Rev. G. A. Morgan, pastor
of the First Methodist Church.

Surviving Mrs. Durham are three sons, the Rev. J. P. Durham, El Dorado, Ark.,
Dr. Silas L. Durham, Dearborn, Mo., Dr. Geo. W. Durham, Winnsboro; three
daughters, Mrs. Bettie Gilbert, with whom she made her home, Mrs. Zeck F.
Bond, Cincinnati, Ohio, Mrs. A. N. Latham, Mansfield; one brother, John T.
McIlwain, Mathis, Texas; three sisters, Mrs. Lizzie Grant, Bentley, Mrs.
Marion M. Melton, Winnfield, and Mrs. Joab L. Durham, Atlanta.

Mrs. Durham was born in Alabama May 2, 1845 and while a small child moved with
her parents to Leake County, Mississippi from where in 1865 they came to
Louisiana settling in Winn Parish.  In 1867 she was married to James L.
Durham, thus uniting two of the largest and most widely known pioneer families
of the section.  While a young woman Mrs. Durham united with the Baptist
Church at Sardis and for the past thirty years has been a member of the First
Baptist Church of Winnfield, of which she was the oldest member in point of
age and also the oldest citizen of the town and surrounding community.

Every member of the immediate family attended the funeral rites Wednesday
except the one brother, John L. McIlwain, who was unable to get her in time.

Among the out of town relatives and friends attending the funeral here
Wednesday were Mrs. Ella B. Durham, Mrs. Byrnes, Shreveport; Mrs. Lizzie Gant,
Bentley, La.; Mr. and Mrs. Joab L. Durham, Odell Durham, Atlanta; Mr. and
Mrs. W. M. Durham, Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Durham, Mrs. D. I. Payne, Mr and Mrs.
O. U. Payne, Mrs. Aubury Bolen, Mrs. Grace Brasher, Mrs. Nellie Antony, Mrs.
R. K. Garrett, Alexandria; Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Hollyfield, Mrs. X. O.
Williamson, Mrs. Johnnie Rayburn, Mrs. A. C. Hill, Norphlet, Ark.; Mrs. John
Griffin, Mrs. Joy Fogleman, Pollock; Mrs. Martha Drewett, Mrs. Ebb Jackson,
Mrs. Bob Jackson, Montgomery; Mrs. Ella Wright, Mrs. Ross Kearney, Jr., New
Roads; Mr. and Mrs. Shelley Diamond, Rayville; Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Robinson,
Winnsboro; Mrs. ?. O. Pinkston, Lake Providence; E. McIlwain, Montgomery; Mr.
and Mrs. Dee Hollyfield, Norphlet, Ark.; Mrs. E. M. Sullins, St. Louis, Mo.;
Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Gilbert, Baton Rouge; A. N. Latham, Lo____ and Lynn Latham,
Mansfield; A. B. Hagler, Ferriday; Mrs. S. L. Durham and Helen Ann Durham,
Dearborn, Mo.; Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Durham, Winnsboro; Mrs. J. P. Durham, El
Dorado, Ark.