Obituary of Shirley Elaine Durham

Shirley Elaine Durham (Steinkamp) passed away at home on October 30, 2023 in Mebane, NC, with a long and courageous battle with dementia.  She was 101.

Shirley was born on September 7, 1922 in Weeping Water, NE to her parents Edward and Annie Steinkamp.  She married Dallas Durham in 1945, and after World War II, they settled in Dallas' hometown of Chapel Hill, NC.  Shirley was a wife and homemaker.  She loved her prayer groups and spending time with her grandchildren.  If they spent Saturday night with her, it was a given they would be in church on Sunday morning.

Shirley served in the United States Women's Army/AirCorp (known as the WAC's) during World War II for two years (1944 and 1945).  She has a great love for her church, her family, her friends and animals.  

She is survived by her children, Judi D. Cialdini-Short, Robert B. Durham, Susan Pendergraph, daughter in law Donna Durham and honorary children Leigh Lee and Pat Bower; her grandchildren, Bart Durham, Brett Durham and his wife Hilary, Chris Cialdini, Mia D. Berg, Matt Cialdini and his wife Tess, Rama Pendergraph, Addie P. Lyle and her husband Greg, Michelle P. Allred and her husband Michael, Colton Short and Amy Abdow with her husband Jeff; her great grandchildren, Jessica Durham, Justin Durham and his wife Brittnay Durham, Brittnay Durham, Joshua Durham, Hailey Cialdini Farran, Parker Berg, Novella Lyle, Emma Cialdini, Revin Allred, Briella Lyle, Amanda Abdow, Jake Abdow, Midori McCarty and her husband Kyle and her great great grandchildren, Madison Durham, Elijah Durham, Natalie Durham and Logan McCarty along with many nieces, nephews and friends.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Dallas; her son, Ned; her parents, Edward and Annie Steinkamp; her sister, Ruth Tapper; her sister, Wanda Gardner and her brother, Dale Steinkamp.  

Services will be held on Friday, November 3, 2023 at Amity United Methodist Church located at 825 North Estes Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.  Visitation will be in the church hall at 11:00AM and the funeral will follow at 12:00PM.  Burial will be at the Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery on 15-501 Chapel Hill/Durham Blvd.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Amity United Methodist Church of a charity of your choice.  

Walker's Funeral Home in Chapel Hill is assisting the family.