Marilyn (Veal) Durden

Marilyn Veal Durden, age 100, of Lyons, died peacefully at home on Friday, May 16, 2025.  She was known to many as Granny, “Miss Granny “ and “GiGi” and loved by all.  She was born in Baxley, on January 31, 1925.  She attended Appling County Schools and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1945.  She moved to Lyons shortly afterwards and taught school at Lyons Primary School.  Marilyn was an active member of the John Durst Sunday School class and Lyons Community Church.  She served on the Lyons City Council and was one of the first women to serve in that capacity.  She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi and enjoyed being a Pink Lady.  She was an avid Georgia Bulldog fan who loved sporting her red and black.  Granny loved spending time with “the Coffee Girls”, her grandchildren, on the beach in Daytona and at Dover Bluff with her family.  She played Bingo and golf and was competitive at both.

She is preceded in death by her parents Willie Lewis “WL” Veal and Georgia Matilda Bowers Veal, her sisters Martha Veal Ballenger, Willie Veal Parker, Mary Nell Veal Stewart, and her identical twin Carolyn Veal Carter.

She is survived by her sons Bruce Durden and wife Sarah of Statesboro, Glenn Durden and wife Karon of Vidalia; five grandchildren, Heath Browning, Cassie Neal and husband Jody, Cameron Durden and wife Anna, Eric Durden and wife Allender, and Hope Hall and husband Bo; ten great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. 

The Durden family wishes to extend sincere gratitude to her loving caregivers Irene Williams, Jean Phillips, Flo Ashley, Romie Knight, Paulette Day, and Ira Woods.

The family will receive friends and loved ones on Sunday afternoon, May 18th, 2025, at Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home in Vidalia from 2:00 until 4:00.

A graveside service will be Monday, May 19th, at 11:00 AM at Ten Mile Creek Baptist Church Veal Family Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Cameron Durden, Eric Durden, Heath Browning, Bo Hall, Jody Neal, Noah Browning, and Cameron Durden Jr.

Flowers are accepted, or memorial donations are suggested to Lyons Community Church, PO Box 71, Lyons, GA 30436.

Ronald V. Hall Funeral Home of Vidalia is in charge of arrangements.

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