Leonard Durrence

Dr. Leonard Clifton Durrence of Highlands, formerly of Brevard, passed away Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, in Highlands, N.C. He was 80 years old.

Dr. Durrence was born Nov. 6, 1928, in Daisy, Ga., son of Cliff and Thelma Brewton Durrence. He was a graduate of Blackshear (Ga.) High School, the University of Georgia and the Medical College of Georgia. He practiced medicine in Blackshear for 40 years before retiring in 1995 and moving to Franklin, N.C. He and his wife, Alyce, lived in Brevard before moving to Highlands.

While living in Blackshear, Dr. Durrence served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Emmanuel Baptist Church and First Baptist Church. He also served as president of the Rotary Club, a city councilman, a member of the planning and development committee and was named Pierce County citizen of the year in 1996. In 1976, he and his wife traveled to Bangladesh as medical missionaries. He served as a trustee at Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon, Ga., a school founded by his mother's uncle. Upon his retirement, he donated all his office equipment to the college's clinic. In 2006, he published his memoir, "An Hour By Sun," co-written with Marjorie Megivern of Brevard.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Alyce Higgins Durrence, of Highlands; his children, Debby Durrence of LaGrange, Ga., Cliff and Helen Durrence of Marietta, Ga., Tamara Barile of Franklin and Jop and Lisa Durrence of Waycross, Ga.; five grandchildren, Anna Brock of LaGrange, Sarah Darracott of Emerald Isle, N.C., Amy Durrence and Ross Durrence, both of Marietta, and Constantina Barile of Franklin; a great-grandson, Aidan Brock of LaGrange; and his sister, Macy Ann Durrence Cook of Waycross.

The memorial service will held at 2 pm Sunday, September 13, 2009 at Bull Creek Baptist Church, Claxton, GA.

To sign Dr. Durrence's guestbook online, please go to "Obituaries" at www.moore- fh.com.
Moore Funeral is caring for the family.