Sally June Long Duke

Sally June Long Duke, 86, of Phenix City, AL died peacefully at her home on Tuesday, December 03, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. 

Chapel Service will be held on Friday, December 06, 2024 at 11:00 am (EST) in the Chapel of Vance Brooks Funeral Home, Phenix City, Al with Rev. Clay Duck officiating. A private interment will follow in Lakeview Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM until the funeral hour on Friday at the funeral home. 

Mrs. Duke was born June 11, 1938 in Phenix City, AL daughter of the late James Elbert Long and Thelma Dorman Long. She was the Salutatorian of the Smiths Station High School graduating Class of 1955 where she was also on the Varsity Basketball team. Mrs. Duke was the Vice President of Duke Quality Services. 

Mom wants to thank God for all the children in her life. All the band kids, all the people doing the carnival, the Sunday school classes, the home bound folks that she led while at Philadelphia Baptist Church. She was a children’s church coordinator with Shirley Jerkins, a childhood friend. They would swap years as the coordinators for children’s church. 

 Mrs. Duke had to move to California for a time. While there she was asked to be coordinator at the church they attended. She ordered all the items the children would need because there were no Southern Baptist Church close to Venture, California. While there Mr. Duke also helped to build a retreat for the young people. They had to move back before the supplies arrived for the children. 

Mrs. Duke loved working with all the organizations: the Smiths Station PTA’s, band, was a school substitute and even a volunteer nurse at the school. She was called “The Boss”, but she loved all the kids she was around. Mrs. Duke said she was so thankful for the kids she taught and “got on to”. But mostly she is so thankful for all her kids, grandkids and great- grandchildren. 

She has left us a great example to follow as a wife and mother. We will miss her so much, but we are thankful for all the fond memories she leaves for us. 

Mrs. Duke was preceded in death by her parents, James and Thelma Long; her husband of 65 years, Thomas Jack Duke, Sr.; a brother, James E. Long, Jr.

Survivors include her daughter, Kelli Duke Curtis and her husband Bill; three sons, Tommy Duke and his wife Debra, Toby Duke and his wife Chiara, and Troy Duke and his wife Leanne, all of Phenix City; a sister, Mary Susan Dean, FL and a brother, John Long (Dorothy), Bleeker, AL; 13 grandchildren, Wade Higgins, T.J. Duke, Jason Duke, Matthew Higgins, Diane Bond, April Jacobs, John Curtis, Kristen Landrum, Aliah Sapp, Kara Coleman, Carter Duke, Kevin Duke and Anna Lea Wrenn; numerous great-grandchildren and expecting more; many other relatives and friends.