James William Durham, a.k.a. “Dubber” was born February 12, 1934 in Marion to Harold Durham and Sophia Galyean. When the 1940 federal census was taken, his family was living on Illinois Rt. 37 in a rental home that cost them $10 per month in rent. His father was working as a road laborer under the W.P.A and there were 3 children in the home, Virginia 8, James 6 and Robert 4. His father had only worked 18 weeks in the year 1939 and earned $190.

The 1950 census found James’ family living at 605 N. Logan Street. His father, Harold 49 worked as a soda bottler and his mother, Sophia, was a food store cashier. Children in the home at the time were Virginia 18, James 16, Robert 14 and Sharon aged 9.

James graduated from Marion High School in the Class of 1952 and immediately joined the U.S. Coast Guard and was discharged in 1956 with the rank of Boatswain Mate 2^nd Class. Following the Coast Guard, James spent two years at S.I.U. and went to work for the General Telephone Company where he would work for over 30 years.

On March 12, 1964, James married Thelma Phillips Boyt, daughter of Omer & Ollie Susan Phillips. Thelma was born May 24, 1934 and had been previously married to Charles Boyt and brought two children into the marriage.

James ran for city commissioner in the 1971 city elections under Mayor Robert L. Butler and won serving his term until its expiration in 1975. During this period of his life he also served on the Marion Housing Authority Board where he was chairman.

Durham passed away in his home at 309 S. 4^th Street at the age of 83 on December 6, 2017. His working career was with the General Telephone Company for over 30 years, he was district engineer when he retired. He was a member of the Masonic Fellowship Lodge No. 89, Heyde-Pillow Post No. 1301 and American Legion Post No. 147 both of Marion, the Williamson County Shrine Club of Marion and the Ainad Shrine of Southern Illinois.

He was survived by his wife, Thelma Durham of Marion; step daughter Vickie Boyt Blandford of Marion; granddaughter, Angelina Barnaby Thompson of Marion; four great-grandsons, James A. Goodman and his wife Alana and Gage, Sam and Benjamin Thompson, all of Marion; sister and brother in law, Sharon and David Short of Marion; five sisters in law, Myra Durham of Marion, Versa Bronconnier of Sparta, Tennessee, Christine Hatcher of Roxboro, North Carolina, Bessie Parker of Monterey, Tennessee, and Mary Ann Dotson and husband, Bobby of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step son, Charles Boyt, Jr; brother, Robert D. Durham; and sister and brother in law Virginia and John Willems.

Masonic Rites were accorded at the funeral home by members of Marion Fellowship Masonic Lodge No. 89. Burial was in Egyptian Memorial Gardens Cemetery of Energy.

Thelma Durham passed away on December 6, 2017 and is buried with James at Egyptian Memorial Gardens.

(Sources: Federal census records, the Southern Illinoisan and Marion Daily Republican newspapers, Marion street directories. Compiled by Sam Lattuca 9/14/2024)