Claude Lee Durrett, Jr.

Claude Lee Durrett Jr. was born June 22, 1916 on Spruce Street in the Pulaski Heights section of Little Rock, Arkansas. He passed away Sunday evening, January 30, 2011 at the age of 94. Claude was born the son of Claude Durrett Sr. and Cora Hope Garner Durrett, and he had one sister, Gladys Hope Durrett (married name Winburn). The Durrett's grew up attending Immanuel Baptist Church and Pulaski Heights Baptist Church in Little Rock, with Claude's mother being one of the founding members of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church. After graduating from Little Rock High School (now Central High School) in 1934 during the Great Depression, Claude entered Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas that fall, graduating in the spring of 1938. Although he originally wanted to attend the University of Arkansas, he was very glad he went to Ouachita, for he met the love of his life, Aletha Sloan, in Arkadelphia while going to school. Upon graduation Claude began to get established in the business world by selling life insurance. He also spent time in the Army during World War II. He and Aletha married in 1939, and they enjoyed an almost 60 year marriage until Aletha's passing in 1999. During February of 1942, Claude and Aletha had Judy, their first and only child. After a relatively short military stint in Louisiana, the Durrett's moved back to Little Rock in the early 1940's, later settling into a house in the heights on Club Road in 1947. They raised Judy and continued to live in that same house until 2008 when Claude moved into Parkway Village. Judy married Pledger Monk Jr. in 1966 and they had one son, Pledger Monk III, who was Claude and Aletha's only grandchild. After Pledger married Jennifer Lee Kuntz in 1993, they had four children, giving Claude four great-grandchildren: Brandon, Connor, Rachel and Parker, who currently range in ages from 8 to 15. Early in his insurance career, Claude reached one of his business goals by becoming a general agent with Pacific Mutual, and he maintained his office in the Donaghey Building in downtown Little Rock. Never one to just sit at home, he continued to go to the office most every weekday until the year 2000 when he was 83 years old. Claude has attributed much of his success in his career to being honest and "straight-laced' in his business dealings. Claude and Aletha were both avid Razorback fans, attending football and basketball games in Fayetteville and Little Rock for decades throughout their marriage. They also had a great many friends, and for many years they could be found every Friday night having dinner with the "Friday Night Group" at Pleasant Valley Country Club. Additionally, they both had a huge love for dancing and listening to jazz and big band music. Claude loved music so much that Aletha bought him a trumpet when he was 63 years old, along with private lessons for him to learn how to play it. Later he began to play some with local jazz bands well into his eighties. Claude said he "strives to "live each day thanking God for all my blessings and asking him to help me become a better person than I was the day before." He is survived by his daughter, Judy Monk of Arkadelphia, Ark.; grandson, Pledger Monk III and his wife, Jennifer of Little Rock, Ark.; great-grandchildren, Brandon, Connor, Rachel and Parker Monk all of Little Rock, Ark. and his nieces, Carolyn Winburn of Little Rock, Ark. and Dr. Mary Winburn of Fort Meyers, Fla. and very dear friends, Ed and Chris Beasley of Little Rock, Ark. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, officiated by Dr. Randy Hyde. A private burial will be held at Roselawn Memorial Park. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com. Memorial may be made to Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 2200 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, Ark. 72205.