William Lee Durden Jr.

Judge William Lee Durden, Jr. passed away March 12, 2011. He was born July 30, 1921 in Brunswick, GA, son of the late William Lee Durden, Sr. and Jessie Marie Hembrook Durden. His family moved to the Springfield area of Jacksonville when he was five years old. He attended public schools, and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School in 1939. His first job after graduation was as an Office Assistant at Fleming, Hamilton, Diver, Jones and Scott. He graduated as the Valedictorian from Jacksonville Junior College (now Jacksonville University)and served in the United States Navy from 1942-1944. He married Agnes Rosemary Herrmann on January 5, 1944. He graduated from the University of Florida law school with Honors in 1947. While in law school he served as Chairman of the Gator Party, Treasurer of the Student Body for 2 years, President of the Senior Law Class, President of the John Marshall Student Bar Association and was a member of Florida Blue Key. He also worked at Clayton, Arnow & Johnson.

He then returned to Jacksonville and went back to work, now as an attorney, at the Fleming firm. In 1953, he became a founding partner at Durden, Whitehead, Hadlow and Adams, later Durden and Adams. During that time he was also a part-time Commissioner of the Duval County Industrial Commission. In 1954 was appointed Judge of Florida's Industrial Court of Claims. In 1957, he was chosen Senior Legal Assistant to Governor LeRoy Collins, and from 1958-1961 he served as Executive Assistant (now titled Lt. Governor) to Governor Collins. Judge Durden presided locally as a Circuit Judge from 1961-1969. He served as the first General Counsel for the Consolidated City of Jacksonville in 1968 and 1969 and authored 264 of the 379 legal opinions interpreting the new charter of the consolidated government and which form the basis of our current city government. In 1970, he returned to private practice with the law firm of Kent, Durden and Kent. Their clients included Ed Ball, the duPont Testamentary Trust, Florida East Coast Railroad, St. Joe Paper Company and Florida National Bank. In 1986 he became General Counsel for Florida National Bank where he served until they merged with First Union. He then returned to private practice where he worked until May, 2010.

Although he accomplished much in his legal career and received awards and recognitions in abundance, his greatest joy was his family: his wife, Agnes Rosemary Herrmann Durden (Rosie) to whom he was married for 67 years; his daughter, Mallory (Circuit Judge) and her husband, Bill and their children, Collins and Cameron; his daughter, Leslie Dianne Durden (deceased); his daughter, Alison and her husband Rick and her daughter, Ryan; his daughter, Lindsay and her husband, Mike; his son, Stephen and his wife, Brenna and their children Spencer and Savannah; and his son, Will and his wife Vicky and her children, Kimberly, Shannen and Mitchel.

Judge and Rosie cherish all of their children and grandchildren. They encouraged all of us to succeed, and they placed a greater value on education than on any material goods. In particular, they lovingly nurtured Dianne through the difficult medical issues she faced from polio. They loved to travel with all of their children and grandchildren, taking special care to choose one or two or three for each exciting adventure.

Judge truly enjoyed watching Collins and Cameron at their football and soccer games. He was delighted with the artistic talents of Ryan and Savannah. He got a big kick out of Spencer's days as a filmmaker. And he welcomed Will's new family from Micronesia, Kim, Shannen and Mitch. He was most proud of all of their academic achievements and accomplishments.

Along with many dear friends and relatives, Rosie and our family will miss "our" Judge and his kind and gentle spirit, his bright and witty mind, his caring and giving nature and his wonderful example of how to live a full and fulfilling life.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Friday, March 18 at 11:00 A.M. at San Jose Catholic Church. Monsignor Danaher and Father Faye will officiate. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 4115 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL, 32207