- Date Of Death: November 23, 2022
- State: Georgia
Sarah Catherine Myatt Durden passed away peacefully on November 23, 2022, after a brief illness. At the time of her death, she was surrounded by her family, extended family, and pastor, Laurie Hintz.
Sarah was born in High Point, North Carolina on February 11, 1959, to the late James Archibald Myatt, Jr, and Christine Jones Myatt. She was a graduate of Westchester Country Day School where she excelled in volleyball, basketball, and softball during high school.
Sarah graduated from the College of Charleston with a B.A. She loved college and she loved Charleston. She often headed to the Battery with her rain boots and drink in hand to watch the oncoming hurricanes. During one of the dress parades at the Citadel, she thought it would be funny to dress as “Tweety Bird” with another sorority sister intent on making the marching cadets smile to their chagrin and to their punishment. As a member of the Delta Delta Delta Sorority, she still counts as good friends her many Tri-Delta sisters.
Sarah was truly the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Mathew 5:13-16. In her “salty” way, she enhanced others by making life better for all who came in contact with her. Sarah always had a joke, story, hug, food, or shoulder for her friends. She spoke or texted her 1000+ friends on a daily basis to check on them and never hesitated to stop and speak to strangers sometimes longer than the strangers probably wanted. But that was Sarah!
Of course, there were times when Sarah’s language was a little “salty” but those who knew Sarah loved her plain, honest and funny statements. Her former Airedale, Duffy, was the recipient of some of these words when he ate the raw turkey off the counter before Thanksgiving one time or tipped over the trashcan in the kitchen looking for food. Sarah would say, “Dammit Duffy” trying to scold him but her big smile and laughter always gave her away.
Sarah’s light in life was extremely large and illuminating. She was so happy and vibrant that she wanted to share life with everyone – whether they were friends or strangers. Even when she was hurting or sick, her light never waned.
Sarah’s greatest pride was her son, James Jefferson (“Jeffy”) Durden. He sometimes tested Sarah’s patience but then he didn’t fall far from the apple tree. Sarah attended most of his lacrosse games at McCallie and at the U.S. Naval Academy. Her piercing whistle from the stands could be heard for miles as she rooted for Jeffy and his teammates. Sarah was known as “Mama D” to all of the boys and her support and supply of pound cakes and cookies was never ending. When Jeffy graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and received his commission as an officer in the U.S. Marines, Sarah’s smile lit up the whole stadium.
Those left to cherish Sarah’ memory are her son, Jeffy Durden, her husband, Jefferson Davis Durden, her sisters, Christine Lee Myatt (Robbie Perkins) of Greensboro, NC, and Elizabeth Myatt McKenzie (Matt McKenzie) of Sherman Oaks, C, A, her favorite nephews, Redmond Cartright McKenzie, Brantley Alexander Phillips and Henry Armstrong McKenzie, and her special “sons,” Benji Inabinet and Ryne Linsley.
God will have his hands full with this mischievous disciple who served in his good name. Never one to obey a curfew, her bright light will always shine down, day or night, serving as a reminder of her good deeds, her laughter, her antics and her zest for life.
