DURWOOD SOUTHERLAND GRADY
Jan. 12, 1937-July 8, 2018
Durwood Southerland Grady, 81, Cove City, died Sunday, July 8, 2018.
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time ...”
Born Jan. 12, 1937, in Duplin County to the late Hiram Southerland and Hazel Williams Grady.
He was the grandson of Stephen Hampton and Susan Southerland Grady and John and Ada Williams.
Durwood was raised on the family tobacco farm in Duplin County, where he had maintained strong roots since leaving home 61 years ago.
He was a 1957 graduate of B.F. Grady School and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He was a member of St. John Masonic Lodge No. 13 in Kenansville.
Early in his career, Durwood worked for Conoco Oil as a district manager, where he led start-up operations across the east coast and southeastern United States.
Durwood owned and operated Grady and Grady Insurance Brokers in New Bern for 40 years. In “retirement,” he owned and operated The Cove Country Store in Cove City.
He also served as a reservist in the Army National Guard, was a past president and lifetime member of the Grady-Outlaw Literary and Historical Association and was a long time member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
He loved fast cars, was an avid gun collector and enjoyed being outdoors until his health prevented him in doing so.
He was a great conversationalist, loved people and never met a stranger.
He is survived by the mother of his children, Helen Grady of New Bern; daughters, Hiedi Lynn Grady of Cove City, Lori Ann Worley of New Bern and Toni Carr and husband, Robert of New Bern; grandchildren John Alexander Grady, Thatcher Bayliss Carr, Macy Elizabeth Carr, Patrick Hampton Worley and Lily Southerland Carr; nieces; nephews; and cousins.
He was preceded in death by one son, Stephen Hiram Grady; daughter, Jerri Lynn Stevens; his parents; grandparents; sister, Susan Imelda Byrd (Kinney); and brother, Royce Dalton Grady.
A service of remembrance with Masonic rites will be held Wednesday, July 11, at Cotten Funeral Home in New Bern.
Visitation will begin at 5 p.m., followed by the service.
Private graveside service will be held at a later date at Hebron Presbyterian Church in Seven Springs.
The family will receive friends and family during the visitation, and other times at the homes of his daughters at 1501 Kimberly Road in New Bern (Lori Ann) and 119 Hillsboro Drive in New Bern (Toni).
Flowers are welcome or memorial contributions to Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 W. Faris Road, Greenville, S.C., 29605 (http://donate.lovetotherescue.org) are appreciated.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on July 11, 2018 8:05 AM