Shelia Marie Durham

Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford Shelia Marie Durham, 62, of Oxford, passed away on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at Baptist Memorial Hospital- North Mississippi. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM for a memorial visitation at Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford. The interment will occur privately on Friday, March 28, 2025, in College Hill Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Shelia was born on March 3rd, 1963 in Batesville, MS to the late Jimmy and Doris Wilkins. She was the oldest of four children, and began her calling of “Mama Hen” when her siblings were born, always leading, guiding, helping, and occasionally joining in the mischievousness. She and her siblings grew up close to the Teasdale community near Enid, MS. Shelia grew up in a time when things were simpler, slower paced, and family was tight-knight and just down the road from one another. Shelia attended Charleston High School and not long after completing school, she met the love of her life, Arthur Durham. The two were wed on April 2nd, 1983 and had two sons, Jimmy and Lee, along with Arthur’s daughter, Angela. The two settled down in Lafayette County just East of Oxford and Shelia took on the role of homemaker and the difficult task of rearing two boys that were in to everything. The house was never quiet for long, because Shelia kept the radio going, singing along to country music while she cooked or did the dishes, filling the home with sound and life and something that felt like steadiness- all while the boys followed in behind her destroying everything she had cleaned. Shelia was a class-clown and comedian who loved to laugh and make others laugh. She had a warm, silly, upbeat personality and was always joking. She was often two steps ahead in a conversation, laying the foundation for her punchlines or to guide the conversation so she could interject with some humor. She was a home body and loved watching movies or television shows and liked to relax in her recliner or porch swing. She cherished spending time with her family, particularly her grandchildren, Dallas and Chloe. The titles she was most proud of was “Mama” and “Granny” Shelia’s love for Jesus began at an early age while attending church with her family, and strongly influenced who she was, how she lived her life, and how she raised her children. She adhered strongly to The Golden Rule and was empathetic, selfless, forgiving, loving, and kind- all values that she taught to her boys. She is survived by two Sons, Jimmy Durham of Oxford; Lee (Emily) Durham of Oxford, Daughter, Angela Durham of Oxford; Grandson, Dallas Durham; Granddaughter, Chloe Durham, Sister, Sandra Anderson of Courtland, MS; and Brother Terry Wilkins of Biloxi, MS. She is preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Arthur Durham; parents Jimmy and Doris Wilkins; sister Susan Wilkins Tindall. The staff at Coleman Funeral Home of Oxford is honored to assist the family during this difficult time. Condolences may be expressed online on her Tribute wall at www.colemanfuneralhomeox.com.

Shelia Marie Durham

March 3, 1963 - March 19, 2025

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