of Clinton, AR

May 22, 1947 - March 17, 2026

James Earl Durham, 78, of Clinton, Arkansas, passed from this life on Tuesday, March 17, to healing and eternal joy with Jesus, whom he loved and walked with through the past years of his life. James Earl, known in fondness as Jamesy as far back as anyone can recall, was born on May 22, 1947, to Charlie and Mary Durham, in Connorsville, Indiana.

James was an avid student of multiple educational institutions, most recently having completed a degree in Registered Nursing in the early 2000's, in his fifties. It is an accomplishment for which family and friends still respect his diligence. His RN certification led him to work in multiple locations, but the larger portion of his nursing career found him a fixture in Clinton, at Ozark Health Medical Center.

A lifetime fan and afficionado of music, James embraced a vibrant joy in a variety of musical genres, from the evolving range of the 1960's through the 1970's now-classic rock and more recently of Southern Gospel. James' library was inclusive of a miscellaneous mix of music, his favored group over the years prior to his passing was Ernie Haas & Signature Sound. James was a big movie buff as well but also enjoyed an array of television series and YouTube videos, from funny cat antics to music videos. It was a virtual impossibility to know and spend time with him and be unaware of his diversity of interests, and his keen wit and intelligence. Within that range of interests was also a deep appreciation for classic muscle cars and his delight in finding and sometimes collecting unique items. Finally, James was widely known among friends and family for his random acts of kindness.

James spent his younger adult years in Military Service, beginning in the Air Force, including a brief stint in the Navy, and ending with time served in the Army National Guard. After his military service concluded, he called multiple locations home, from Missouri and Colorado to the Yosemite region of Northern California. Eventually the Ozarks of Northern Arkansas called him back home, and along his journey, James tried out a variety of occupations leading up to his ultimate career in nursing.
His obituary would be incomplete without mentioning his lifetime journey of faith. The world called in his youth and like many before and since, he responded with a separation from the God of his childhood. As with everyone, God had a purpose for himâ€"once he had rediscovered his faith in and love for Jesus, he spent his remaining years sharing that love with everyone he knew and met.

James Earl Durham, richly loved in life, is equally missed in his absence. His surviving family includes his remaining siblings: Nellie Rains (Braxton) of Leslie; Shirley Patterson (Donald Ray, SR) of Marshall; Larry Durham (Judy) of Harrison; Robert Durham of Harrison; Judy Woods, of Marshall, and an unofficial brother, Mike Ray of Clinton, whose brotherhood serves as a reminder that the blood of Jesus Christ ties His people together in kinship and a love that often runs as deep as familial blood bonds. James is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews, and close friends, all of whom were as loved by him as he was each of them.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Mary Durham, a brother, William Durham, and a son, Jeffrey, of Central Missouri.

Rest in Peace now, Jamesy (James Earl); you made it Home.

 

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