Gina Durden Kitchens

It is with heavy hearts that we share the peaceful passing of Gina Durden Kitchens on July 18, 2025, at Brookwood Baptist Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, just shy of her 71st birthday.

Gina was the third of four children born to Bill and Virginia Durden, who raised their family in Covington, Georgia. She graduated from Newton County High School in 1973, and her dedication to learning continued throughout her life, leading her to graduate from Augusta College in 1985 and Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham in 2003.

In 1973, Gina married Skipper Kitchens. Together, they built a life that took them across several states, including Georgia, Virginia, and Florida, before they finally settled in Alabama. Gina’s career was as diverse as her interests; she excelled as an accounting clerk, a special education teacher, and an award-winning interior designer. Her commitment to her community shone brightly through her work as an award-winning PTA Council President for the Augusta-Richmond County School System, and she also served on the Board of Directors at Glenwood, Inc. A woman of strong Christian faith, Gina was especially proud to be a founding member of Grace United Methodist Congregation in Birmingham.

Gina was a wonderful mother who brought immense joy and love to her family and countless friends. She had a passion for sports, especially cheering on the Atlanta Braves and the Georgia Bulldogs. She enjoyed serving with her small group and the Joy Circle at Grace. She cherished her travels, particularly her annual mother-daughter trips with Laura.

Gina is lovingly remembered by her two daughters, Jody Kitchens of Birmingham and Laura Guill (Cameron) of Marietta, Georgia, and her devoted grandson, Xander Guill (Adrianna). She also leaves behind her brother, Lee Durden (Lynn), and her sisters, Delaine Reeder (Bill) and Susan Richey (Bill), along with numerous nieces and nephews whom she adored.

A celebration of life will be held at Caldwell and Cowan Funeral Home in Covington on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. Friends may visit with the family one hour prior to the service at the funeral home from 1:00 P.M. until 2:00 P.M. A celebration of Gina’s life will also be scheduled at Grace UMC in Birmingham at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Gina’s memory to Glenwood Inc., an Autism & Behavioral Health Center, at 150 Glenwood Lane, Birmingham, AL 35242, or online at Glenwood.org/donate.