Aaron Jackson “Cotton” Durrance, 77, of Blackshear, passed away Friday afternoon, June 20, 2025, at his residence, following a short illness.
Born May 15, 1948, in Bacon County, he was a son of the late Harley Durrance and Iris Taylor Durrance Courson. He lived most of his life in Pierce County and was retired from the City of Blackshear Public Works Department as a foreman of water and sewer.
He had served in the United States Army in Germany during the Vietnam era and was a long-time member of Shady Grove Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Glenda Ann Lovell Durrance; a son, Kenneth Durrance; step-father, Clifford Courson; six brothers, David Durrance, Clyde Durrance, Lamar Durrance, Harold Durrance, Harry Courson and Larry Courson; four sisters, Iris Lee (Claude) Courson Carroll, Mattie Roselyn (Earl) Lovell, Ora Lee Hagen and Lera (Bruce) Hyers; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Glenda Curl Durrance, Brenda Lovell, Waunell Holloway, Winfree Lovell and Waylon Lovell.
Survivors include two sons, Jim Durrance and Brad Durrance (wife Sandra), both of Blackshear; grandchildren, CJ and Caroline McGuire, Tiffany and Harley Gomme, Kevin and Kelsea McGuire, Alyssa Durrance, Kyle and Ole Durrance, Katie and Alex Hernandez, Heather and Jeremy Coleman, Brent and Emily Durrance and David Durrance; great-grandchildren, Lili Coleman, Brantley Coleman, Ella Coleman, Kazly Hernandez, Aleigha Hernandez and Tristan Hernandez, Emmarie Durrance and Riley Durrance; three brothers and sisters-in-law, Glynn and Carolyn Durrance, Wetumpka, AL, Howard and Mickey Courson, Monticello, FL and Homer and Kathy Courson, Alma; a sister, Linda Palmer (Al), Blackshear; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Juanita Durrance, Roberta, Marie Durrance, Alma, Judy Durrance, Waycross, Darlene Durrance, Lake Park, Pat Courson, Monticello, FL, Wilma Hale, Blackshear and Wallace Lovell, Richardson, TX and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, June 23, at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, from the Shady Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Edmund Thrift and the Rev. Jimmy Thrift officiating.
Interment will follow in the Shady Grove Cemetery.
The family requests all current and former employees of the City of Blackshear Public Works Department to serve as honorary pallbearers. They are asked to please be at the church by 12:40 p.m. Tuesday.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com.
Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of arrangements.
