Jack Durham Obituary

Jack Curtis Durham, Jr., devoted husband, beloved physician, and passionate outdoor enthusiast, left us peacefully on September 15, 2025, at the age of 73. Born on November 26, 1951, in Greenville, South Carolina, Jack lived a life characterized by compassion, dedication, and adventure. Jack graduated from Clemson University in 1973 and went on to earn his Doctorate from the Medical University of South Carolina in 1978. Later, he was Board Certified AAFP in 1981. He spent his career as a general practice physician, where he was known for his deep caring attitude and unwavering commitment to his patients. His dedication extended beyond his practice; for 13 years, including the time he served in the emergency room, always striving to make a difference in the lives of those he supported. In 2010, he was honored as a nominee for the St. Luke Award by the Bon Secours St. Francis Hospital System, a testament to his outstanding service and compassion. A true Greenville native, Jack found joy in the great outdoors. He loved cycling, hiking, skiing and fishing, often sharing these passions with his beloved wife, Lee Durham, whom he married 20 years ago after they met while cycling on several group rides. He cherished every moment spent with her and was known as her "rock-solid and steady" and constant in all of life's challenges. He was also an avid woodworker in recent years, further reflecting his creative spirit. In addition to his wife Lee, Jack is survived by daughter, Laura Durham Church, and grandchildren, Ada Grace, Natalie, Harper and Nathan; daughter, Leigh Durham Marcey, and grandchildren; Benjamin, Connor, Andrew and Lila, and sons, William Glenn and Michael Ward Durham. Laura shared that her daddy would play in the waves with them at the beach and showed them how to ride the waves to the shore. He came to all the football and basketball games while she was at Clemson, and that they even went to games together after she graduated. Leigh remembers skiing in Utah with her dad, always wishing and waiting for powder dumps. She will never forget the eye-opening, icy cold waters of the Nantahala splashing them as they canoed down the river. Dad was always encouraging and supporting her on the sidelines of games on and off the soccer field. When they ate crab legs dad would always crack them for her, until she got married. Leigh's husband now makes her crack her own! Dad always gave up sweets for Lent, so by Easter morning he was eager to dive into some chocolate. He would sneak into our baskets and eat the ears off the chocolate bunnies. Glenn recalls that his dad told him, before every soccer match, to "Go hard or go home." This was his way of encouraging Glenn to always do his best. He also leaves behind his siblings, Patricia Hunter (Randy), Tammie Aycock- Douglas (George), Billy Durham (Robin) and Toni Smith. Tammie reflected that after returning home from squirrel hunting, Jack laid his catch outside for cleaning. She decided to sneak one for herself as a pet to place in her small wooden bed with a pink satin blanket covering it. Jack wasn't very happy when he found the missing squirrel. So, she handed it over to him and he told her that she could get rabies sickness from squirrels. Knowing that she could get sick was enough to keep her from stealing his squirrels ever again. Toni remembers that she always sat beside Jack at the dinner table. Whenever they had a meal with meat on the bone, he would discard the used bones on her plate. After their mom passed, Jack came home from school one weekend with a Clemson sweatshirt for her birthday. She'll never forget what it looked like – orange with a large white tiger paw print on the front. Toni shared that most of her memories of Jack are from their younger years. Working in the medical industry for more than 30 years, she was always proud to say her brother was a doctor. He is and will always be her big brother. She is going to miss him but will see him in heaven one day. Jack held a deep love for his dog, Coco, who was a beloved companion in his life. He often shared his wisdom with family and friends, reminding them that "water off a duck's back" was a mantra for navigating life's challenges. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, October 11th 10:30 a.m., at Christ Church Episcopal, Markley Chapel, 10 North Street, Greenville, S.C. 29601. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Upstate Forever, an organization dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of the area Jack loved. Jack Curtis Durham, Jr. will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all those who were fortunate to know him. His legacy of kindness, dedication, and love for the outdoors will continue to inspire many in the years to come. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Jack C. Durham, Sr., Mary Elizabeth Durham. Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Jack with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory."