Janelle (“Jan”) Fulcher Durham, a proud Savannah native, lifelong learner, devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, minister, author, and friend, passed away in Atlanta, Georgia on June 3, 2026, at the age of 83.

Born on June 2, 1943, in Savannah, Georgia, Jan was the daughter of John Brinson Fulcher and Dolly Coleman Fulcher. She spent her childhood and young adult years in Savannah, graduating from Savannah High School in 1961. During those years she formed lifelong friendships, doted on her beloved cats, read any book she could get her hands on, made frequent trips to Augusta and Midville for family celebrations, was a runner-up in the Miss Savannah pageant, and developed a deep love for the marshes, beaches, and history of coastal Georgia that would remain with her throughout her life. Jan’s favorite times were spent with cousins (and later also her husband, daughter and grandchildren) at the Price family beach home on Tybee Island.

After attending Armstrong College, Jan earned her bachelor's degree in Secondary Education from Georgia Southern University and later completed a master's degree in English. A lifelong student with an insatiable curiosity, she continued pursuing education throughout her life and eventually answered a call to ministry by attending Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Jan graduated from Candler and in 2003 and was ordained as a Deacon in Full Connection in the United Methodist Church.

In 1965, Jan married the love of her life, John Samuel "Sam" Durham, and moved to Atlanta. There they built a life together and raised their daughter, Heather. Jan and Sam spent more than forty years in the Atlanta area before retiring to Savannah, where they enjoyed twenty years surrounded by friends, family, and the beauty of the coast. In 2023, Jan and Sam returned to Atlanta to be closer to their daughter and grandchildren.

Jan was ahead of her time for many women of her generation, maintaining a professional career throughout much of her adult life. Her work included teaching children with special needs at the DeKalb County Training Center and owning and operating a successful craft, clothing, and jewelry business during the 1980s and 1990s.

Yet it was in ministry and service that Jan found her deepest calling. She served congregations throughout North Georgia, including Mt. Bethel, Bethany, St. John's, and North Springs United Methodist Churches. Following her move to Savannah, she continued serving in the South Georgia Conference at Skidaway United Methodist Church and Asbury Memorial Church.

Throughout her ministry, Jan was especially devoted to older adults and families affected by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. She established the Older Adult Center Alzheimer's respite program at Mt. Bethel United Methodist Church, facilitated countless support groups through the Alzheimer's Association, served as a volunteer hospice chaplain, and dedicated herself to helping families navigate some of life's most difficult journeys.

Even as she faced her own journey with dementia, Jan's concern for others never waned. Living among fellow seniors, she remained deeply aware of the needs and challenges of those around her, often remarking, "There are so many people who need help here, and I can't get to them." Those words captured the essence of a woman who spent her life caring for others and whose greatest wish was always to do more.

Jan was also a gifted writer whose prayers often moved congregants so deeply that they requested copies to keep and reread. She authored After the Example of Christ, a guide to servant ministry used in congregations throughout the United Methodist Church, and co-authored a manual on congregational respite care. The congregation of Asbury Memorial and the many friends (who became family) that she made there held a particularly special place in Jan’s heart.

During retirement, inspired by the history surrounding her beloved Skidaway Island, she fulfilled a lifelong dream of becoming a published novelist with Fastened to the Marsh: A Savannah Saga. Of her many accomplishments, becoming a professionally published author was among those she treasured most.

Those who knew Jan will remember her as someone who genuinely cared. She was a remarkable listener who made people feel heard, valued, and understood. She wanted to know what was happening in your life, what you were learning, what excited you, and how she could help. Her curiosity about people was matched only by her curiosity about the world around her.

n found joy in many pursuits. She loved reading, writing, genealogy research, beachcombing for seashells, international travel, and learning nearly anything new. She was an extremely talented singer who could always be found in the soprano section of (or singing solos with) her church’s choir. She delighted in bridge and mahjong games, Friday night outings with friends, Tuesday dinners at Jalapeños, Bible study groups (both as a leader and as a participant), and lively game nights. A lifelong lover of opera, Jan’s favorite time of year in Savannah was August – the month of the Savannah VOICE Festival. While she relished the time with family and friends, nothing brought Jan more happiness than hosting her grandchildren for extended summer visits and sharing with them her love for the Georgia coast.

Jan is survived by her devoted husband, John Samuel "Sam" Durham; her daughter, Heather Durham Nadler, and son-in-law, Jonathan Nadler, of Atlanta; her beloved grandchildren, Cameron Samantha Nadler and Evan Durham Nadler; cousin Ginger Price Masingill of Tybee Island; niece Rachel White Long (Brent) of Savannah and their children Charlotte and Ben; nephews Adam White of Asheville, North Carolina, and Jonas White of Provo, Utah; cousins Kinzie Masingill Evrard and Meredith Masingill Frazee of Georgetown, Indiana; beloved descendants of the White Sisters; and numerous cousins and extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, John Brinson Fulcher and Dolly Coleman Fulcher; her cousins, Tommy and Mary Price; her sister-in-law, Janie White Shuman; and many deeply loved and thoroughly spoiled cats.

Jan's life was marked by faith, compassion, intellectual curiosity, and a genuine love for helping people. Whether through her ministry, her writing, her friendship, or simply her willingness to listen, she left the world kinder than she found it. Her family and friends will carry forward the lessons she taught, the stories she shared, and the love she so generously gave.

A memorial service celebrating Jan's life will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Kingswood Church in Dunwoody, Georgia, with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Asbury Memorial Church in Savannah, Georgia, where Jan found friendship, fellowship, and spiritual nourishment.