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Fourth Generation


51. John Dewey DURHAM was born on 11 Mar 1916 in Virginia.36,37

John Dewey DURHAM and Jessie M. SOYARS were married on 25 Jul 1945 in Virginia. Jessie M. SOYARS (daughter of Major Thomas SOYARS and Georgia Texas CRUISE) was born on 28 Dec 1919 in Patrick County, Virginia. She died on 26 Dec 2011 in Martinsville, Henry County, Virginia. Martinsville Bulletin - Obituaries
Jessie M. Durham Died Monday, December 26, 2011
Dec 27, 2011

Jessie Soyars Martin Durham, 91, of 100 Dickys Drive, Martinsville, died Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, at Memorial Hospital in Martinsville.

She was born Dec. 28, 1919, in Patrick County to Major T. Soyars and Georgia Cruise Soyars. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two husbands, John D. Dick Durham of 36 years, and Richard E. Martin of 18 years; six sisters, Virginia S. Wrenn, Vera S. Campbell, Mabel S. Stephens, Minnie S. Troutman, Ava S. Klutz and Jeanette S. Caricofe; three brothers, Paul E. Soyars, David T. Soyars and Earl C. Soyars; and one stepson, Richard Terry Martin.
She was a graduate of Blue Ridge Mission High School, Averett College and Mary Washington College. She taught school in Patrick County and Henry County before going to DuPont, where she retired with 40 years of service from the industrial engineering section.

She was a member of First Baptist Church of Martinsville, where she was a member of the Placide Mitchell Sunday School Class, the Womens Missionary Union and other church organizations. She was a member of the Martinsville Literary Guild Book Club, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the American Business Womens Association. After retiring from DuPont, she volunteered at Memorial Hospital in the emergency room for 15 years.
Surviving are a brother, Silas G. Soyars of Danville; two daughters, Carolyn C. Tosh of Martinsville and Lisa Caricofe of Lewisville, N.C.; two stepchildren, Jim Martin of Collinsville and William Bill Martin of New Bern, N.C.; one granddaughter; one great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at noon Thursday at First Baptist Church of Martinsville with the Rev. Dr. Dennis Knight and the Rev. John Fulcher officiating. Entombment will be at Roselawn Mausoleum.

The family will receive friends for an hour before the service Thursday at the church.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Martinsville, 23 Starling Ave., Martinsville, Va. 24112.

McKee-Stone Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

John Dewey DURHAM and Jessie M. SOYARS had the following children:

+95

i.

Carolyn C. DURHAM.

+96

ii.

Lisa DURHAM.