Claudia Durham

Claudia Rowe (Baker) Durham

November 4,1942 - August 12, 2024

Claudia Rowe (Baker) Durham, aged 81 years old, passed away peacefully in her sleep after a long battle with dementia on Monday August 12th 2024 at The Retreat Senior Care Home in Albuquerque, NM. 

Claudia was born on November 4th, 1942 in Hibbing, Minnesota to Virginia “Jinnie” Harrison (Edwards) Baker and Claude Rowe Baker. She lived many places during her childhood including Chapel Hill, NC where she met Thomas “Tom” Edward Durham and they married on December 16th, 1958 in Lee County, NC. Claudia had many homes with Tom during his years of service with the United States Air Force. They welcomed their first son Robert “Rob” Durham in 1959 and then their second son Thomas “Ted” Durham in 1962, both born in Albuquerque, NM. The Durham family also had a 3 year adventure in Ipswich, England where their youngest daughter Virginia “Jinni” Durham was born in 1964. Claudia and Tom eventually settled to raise their children in Las Cruces, NM. 

Claudia always held her childhood in North Carolina close to her heart, often telling stories about getting to experience her first rock concert seeing Chuck Berry perform and rooting for the UNC Tar Heels. She also developed a deep love for the New Mexico desert that she came to call home. She had many adventures traveling across the country over the years on trips with her children and grandchildren as well as faithfully attending graduation and wedding ceremonies, despite sometimes being as far away as the Big Apple. Although she appreciated the opportunity for so much traveling, she was happiest getting to host and feed her family in her home on Sharon Circle, most often serving her famous brisket and beloved apple pie. Claudia was very athletic and outdoorsy as an avid biker, swimmer and camping enthusiast. She was consistently stylish, making clothes and carefully curating her Southwestern home decor including a years-long search for the perfect mirror to go with her Coyote Traders rustic cabinet, and spent many hours carefully maintaining her home garden. She found great joy one summer when a pair of hummingbirds built a nest on her porch and could excitedly share the baby hummingbird updates of the day. Everyone who knew Claudia has always commented on how kind, loving and welcoming she was. 

Claudia is survived by her children, son Rob Durham and his wife Joanie Griffin, daughter Jinni Durham, and son Ted Durham’s wife Monica Gonzales Durham. She is also survived by eight beloved grandchildren, Maria Barva, Nikki Barva, Danielle (Durham) Vigil, Celeste (Durham) Valencia, Nicholas Durham, Alexander Durham, Kinsey Durham Grace, and Rachael Durham, as well as six beautiful great-grandchildren, Elena “Ella” Peterson, Crew Thomas Grace, Kylie Ann Grace, Erik Wigert, Olive Wigert, and Liliana Rose Vigil. She was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas “Tom” Edward Durham, their son, Thomas “Ted” Edward Durham, and her three siblings, Richard Baker, Robert Baker and Bonnie (Baker) Broussard. 

Claudia’s family is very grateful to the many nurses and staff members who took such loving care of her during her time at The Retreat. 

There will be a bench dedicated to Claudia’s memory in Elena Gallegos Open Space in the coming months. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Dementia Society of America would be appreciated.