Barbara Jane Duke

Barbara Jane Duke, age 95, of Macon, Georgia passed away on Sunday, October 15, 2023, after a brief illness. A Celebration of her Life will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, October 21, 2023 at Snow's Memorial Chapel, Bass Road. Rev. Dr. Bryan Whitfield will officate. Burial will be private for family only at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to First Baptist Church of Christ, 511 High Place, Macon 31201 or to the donor's favorite charity.

Mrs. Duke was the second of five girls born to Walter Harold Cordray and Laura Marie Green Cordray in Savannah, Georgia on October 2, 1928. She Graduated from Savannah High in 1945. Mrs. Duke graduated from Shorter College in 1949 with a major in Biology. She then went to New Orleans where she did her medical technology training at Charity Hospital. While in New Orleans, attending the New Orleans Baptist Seminary, she met the love of her life, Harold Dean Duke. They were married in Savannah in 1955 and began their family of three children. In 1960, they began their service to the Lord as missionaries, serving in Costa Rica, Chile and Colombia. In 1970, the family returned to the United States settling in Macon, Georgia. After a year teaching, she began working with the state of Georgia as a Medical Technologist for the Georgia Department of Human Resources. She retired in 1992.

After retirement, Mrs. Duke volunteered in elementary schools and nursing homes, worked in Adult Literacy, taught Sunday School and served as a deacon. She loved to travel. Her love of travel took her on many trips that covered every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

Mrs. Duke was preceded by her husband of 40 years, Harold Dean Duke. Mrs. Duke is survived by her children, Deann Marie Duke, Danna "Lynn" Duke Batson (Aubrey), Dean Evan Duke; grandchildren, T. L. Smith, III, Ryal Dean Smith, and Matthew Cordray Smith; 3 great-grandchildren; sisters, Nancy Barnwell and Rose Thorn; numerous nieces and nephews.

The memory of her joy for life, love for all people and family, her kindness toward others will remain in the hearts of her children. Her children will forever be grateful for her example as a woman of honesty and strong moral principles.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.snowsmacon.com for the Duke family.

Snow's Memorial Chapel, Bass Road, has charge of arrangements.