Obituary of Coach Eddie Durham

Eddie "Goose" Durham was born June 20th, 1944 and went to be with the Lord Thursday May 2, 2013, after a lengthy illness. Eddie worked at Holston Defense for 31 years, retiring in 1997. He then went to work for the City of Kingsport at Cora Cox Academy as a teaching assistant. He was the official scorekeeper for the Kingsport Mets from the start of the league until 2011. He worked as a color analyst at WKPT Radio Sports. Eddie began his coaching career at age 16. He has coached in various organizations such as Kingsport Parks and Recreation, AAU, and Kingsport Boys & Girls Club. He coached at Dobyns-Bennett High School from 1997-2011. He spent 14 years as an assistant coach with the DB basketball staff and the last 11 years on the Tribe golf staff, including 5 years as head coach. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award for coaching from the Big 8 Conference in 2011. He was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church of Kingsport, involved in youth group and other activities. He was preceded in death by his father, Alic Monroe Durham and his mother, Blannie Durham Lazenby. He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Linda Durham; son, Gunnar Durham and wife Stefanie of Ooltewah, TN; two daughters, Courtney Conkin and husband Chris of Kingsport, and Whitney Gilliam and husband Terry of Simpsonville, SC; a "sister" Judy Miller; his sister, Sue Morgan both of Kingsport; his special family, Graham Clark & Bobby Hill; six grandchildren, Maddie, Alex, Kaitlin, Sarah Payton, Kierstin, and Charlie; a nephew, Denham "Robby" Morgan; close friends, Jim and Carolyn Wood, Danny and Teresa Livesay, and Betty French. Throughout his coaching career, he has mentored and positively influenced many young lives. Eddie always saw his glass as half full and never half empty. The family will receive friends from 3 - 7 pm on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at the Buck Vanhuss Dome at Dobyns-Bennett High School, Kingsport. Funeral services will follow at 7 pm with Rev. John Coates, officiating. A eulogy will be given by Coach Cary Daniels, Coach Bobby Hill and Coach Graham Clark. Music will be provided by Dr. Phil Hoskins & Lemuel Mixon. Justin Penley, Charlie Morgan, Jim Wood, Jim Sipe, Danny Livesay, Lynn Shoemaker, Bob Seymour & Terry Quillen will serve as pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers will be the 2013 Senior Class Members of the Dobyns Bennett Basketball and Golf Teams. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in memory of Eddie to the Dobyns-Bennett High School Football Program, 1800 Legion Drive, Kingsport, TN 37664. Carter-Trent Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport is serving the family of Coach Eddie Durham.