McMinnville native and resident Aaron Lee Durham, 81, lost his battle with cancer on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 12:54 a.m. at Centennial Medical Center.
He was born Jan. 7, 1934 to Jesse Durham and Laura Burkett Durham, who preceded him in death. He was also preceded in death by brothers, Harold Durham of Nashville and Mack Durham of McMinnville; and infant sister.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Kay Cantrell Durham; his three children, Brad Durham of McMinnville, Jennifer Durham of Seattle, Wash., and Julie Durham of Boulder, Colo.; and one stepdaughter, Kami Smith (Tony) of McMinnville. He was “Grandbull” to four grandchildren, Lauren Durham and Tucker Smith, both of Murfreesboro, and Kelsi Smith and Tessa Smith, both of McMinnville; and one great-grandchild, Elijah Smith Young of McMinnville. He is also survived by one brother, Tony Durham (Danette) of Knoxville; and sister-in-law, Frances Durham of Nashville. Additional survivors include two nieces, Laura (David) Duncan of Nashville, and Amy (Patrick) Riley of Dallas, Texas; and nephew, David (Melody) Durham of Dayton, Ohio. Two great-nieces and one great-nephew also survive.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, he was an entrepreneur who started several businesses during his lifetime, with a career that also included banking and real estate development. But his first love was broadcasting, evidenced by building his own crystal radio set as a young boy and broadcasting to his West Sparta Street neighborhood, where he grew up. He worked as an announcer during his high school and college years, and eventually bought WAKI (formerly WMMT), McMinnville’s first radio station where he began and ended his 50-year broadcasting career. He put two additional stations on the air in the Middle Tennessee area, and had other broadcasting interests.
He was a Christian and a member of McMinnville’s First United Methodist Church. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held in the Historic Sanctuary on Friday, Oct. 9, at 4 p.m. with Rev. Jeffrey Thompson and Rev. Dick Scott-Welch officiating. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. in the building’s Fellowship Hall downstairs.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church’s Good Neighbor Program or Prayer Shawl Ministry, the American Cancer Society, or your favorite charity.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Oct. 4, 2015