Eileen Jane Durham Heyward, 92, of Anderson, South Carolina passed away Monday, February 12, 2024, after a brief illness.

Born March 31, 1931, in Peoria, Illinois and raised in East Peoria, Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Leo Ivan "Mac" Durham and Minnie Viola Auweiler Durham. She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. David A. Heyward of Anderson and her sister, Carol Zimmerman of Houston, Texas.

Surviving are her son, Andrew D. Heyward and his wife, Lynette J. Heyward of Cumming, Georgia.

A graduate of East Peoria High School, Eileen worked most of her life as a homemaker. She also worked as a secretary, most recently for Tri-County Technical College for over 20 years. She was active in Presbyterian Women and served her husband's various churches in a number of ways, including as deacon, children's nursery worker, and Vacation Bible School volunteer, and after joining First Presbyterian Church of Anderson in 1982, she served as women's circle leader, Wednesday night fellowship volunteer, and as a volunteer in the church's administrative office. Also, while at First Presbyterian Church of Anderson, she founded the Kindred Spirits, a support group for widowed ladies of the congregation. She devoted several years of her life as a caregiver, including for her late mother and late husband, while they were each bedridden at different times. She will be remembered as a loving, devoted wife and mother with a lifetime of Christian service and a wonderful sense of humor.

A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Anderson on Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 2:00 pm with Dr. Dennis Tedder officiating. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Arrangements are being handled by The McDougald Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to Hospice of the Upstate or to First Presbyterian Church of Anderson.