Rev. Durwood Rogers Souther

Durwood Rogers Souther, age 93 (just shy of 94 which was his goal) joined the love of his life, Frances Souther in heaven on Sunday, October 3, 2021, from the comfort of his home in Virginia without hospice involvement.

Durwood was born in Macon, Georgia to the late Mack Gray Souther and Annie Lee Rogers Souther Stafford. He grew up in Macon and lived in Miami, Florida for some time before his Dad passed when he was 13. In 1944, at age 17, he was proud to serve in the United States Navy during WWII and was on the U.S.S. Coral Sea when it was commissioned and is a Plank Owner. He met his sweetheart and love of his life, Frances Ivalyn Cribb and they were married on July 17, 1949.

He graduated from Mercer University, Macon, Georgia, was a school teacher and worked as a civilian at Robins Air Force Base, GA, when he felt called to become a minister so moved his wife and three children to Fort Worth, Texas where he graduated with a Master’s in Theology at Southwestern Seminary. He served as Minister of Education, Cross Keys Baptist and later as the first headmaster of Tattnall Square Baptist Academy both in Macon, Georgia. He returned to Warner Robins and worked on the base until he retired at age 65. After retirement he became chaplain for Heart of Georgia Hospice for 15 years, retiring at age 80. He and Frances attended Central Baptist Church for over 50 years. In addition, he was a lifetime member of the VFW.

Sadly in 2017 his precious wife of 1 month shy of their 69th anniversary was overmedicated by hospice and he lost the love of his life and his world was shattered. He moved in with his youngest daughter, Marsha and her husband Jay Joiner in Virginia where he lived for the next 4+ years and attended Heritage Baptist Church.

His family and friends remember him as a devoted husband, loving dad, granddad, ggdaddy and a Christian man. He was quite the character always joking and ready to travel and see new places and people. He never met a stranger and lived a long life until his body was just worn out. He will be missed by all who loved him, but we are comforted knowing he is where he wants to be, in heaven with his sweetheart, Frances and Jesus. Rest in Peace sweet man and we will see you and Momma again in heaven one day.

He is survived by his children: Sheila Foster Waldner (Richard) of Panama City Beach, FL, David Souther (Heidi) of Warner Robins, GA and Marsha Maddox Joiner (Jay) of Woodbridge, VA; grandchildren: Rebecca Foster Tonge (Thomas), Hillary Foster Pennington, Joshua Souther and Cortney Maddox (Lisa); great-grandchildren: (Logan, Emma, Ella), (Owen, Blake, Madison), (Kaylee, Anna) and Taylor; siblings: Peggy King, Patsy Dent (Felts) and Richard Stafford (Patty), and Shirley Staples, predeceased in 2020.

Visitation will be at McCullough Funeral Home from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 16, 2021. A funeral service will immediately follow in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home at 2:00 with Dr. Bob Dilks officiating. After the service, Durwood will be laid to rest in Magnolia Park Cemetery beside his lovely bride, Frances Souther.

For friends and family unable to attend, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

Memorial donations may be given in memory of Durwood to Central Baptist Church, 1120 Lake Joy Road, Warner Robins, GA 31088.

Learn about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.