Frederick Q. "Freddie" Durrah II

Frederick Q. Durrah II, affectionately known as “Freddie” passed on January 10, 2016 in Kennesaw, Georgia. He was born on April 30, 1945 to Frederick Quintillas and Annie Laurie Durrah in Atlanta, Georgia at Harris Memorial Hospital. If you were lucky enough to talk with Freddie about his childhood, you knew how much his great grandmother Ethel meant to him and how much she taught him about life at an early age. Freddie attended E. R. Carter Elementary School where he was a good student and very active with the local boy scouts. He also attended Henry McNeal Turner High School where he enjoyed math and engineering, Freddie graduated in 1963. Freddie’s sister Mignon said that he could take a car apart and put it back together better than before. He had impeccable taste when it came to his appearance and his cars were no exception, they were always clean, polished, sharp and fast. Freddie worked with the “grass roots” movement as a young Democrat which helped elect Charles L. Weltner to the U. S. House of Representatives from Georgia’s 5th District and Leroy Johnson to the Georgia General Assembly, becoming the first African American to be elected in more than 50 years. For his efforts he was invited to attend the inaugural address of Lyndon Baines Johnson as the 36th President of the United States in 1965. Freddie always had a great sense of humor and never met a stranger, which was a great combination for working in concert and family attractions, advertising and sales. In 1972 Freddie got the opportunity to put all of his talents to good use while working with his mother and Mr. J. Lee Friedman, CEO of Atlanta Jazz Festival, Inc., and President of Braves Productions Inc. who brought many entertaining shows to the Atlanta Fulton County Stadium and the Omni. He worked for a while at the old Sears and Roebuck in the west end, where he sold appliances, until he had an opportunity to sell electronics at Davison’s at Cumberland Mall. It was a great job, his love and knowledge of music made him one of their top salesmen during his time there. He also met his beautiful wife, Christy, and they were married on July 25, 1981. With a new wife, Freddie went to work for Tom O’Ryan at Transportation Media Inc. (now Clear Channel Outdoors) as an advertising account executive where he remained until his illness caused him to retire. When Freddie received his first diagnosis, he told his doctor that he didn’t know a thing about dying, so you need to tell me about living. He received his first transplant, a heart, in 1988 and then a kidney in 2004. His fighting spirit and love of life was truly something to be admired. With Christy by his side for 34 years and his favorite cats on his lap he handled each twist and turn with laughter and faith Freddie is survived by his wife, Christy Durrah; sisters, Mignon Nance Geiger, Frederica Durrah Morris; brother, Herman Q. Durrah; father and mother-in-law, Orestes Charles “Bud” and Catherine P. Huff; sisters-in-law, Sandra Huff Jones, Deborah Huff and Cathy Huff; son, Frederick O. “Ricky” Durrah; niece, Maria Henry Bryson (Carlton). He also leaves behind other nieces and nephews, extended family and many friends. In lieu of flowers the family request that a tribute donation be made to the Georgia Transplant Foundation in Freddie’s name, 770-457-3796 www.gatransplant.org. www.mayeswarddobbins.com 770-428-1511

Frederick Q. "Freddie" Durrah II

April 30, 1945 - January 10, 2016