OBITUARY

FERRUM, Va. -- Ferrum College mourns the loss of Tanisha Durham '04, who passed away on January 3, 2026. Durham was 46 years old.

Durham played women's basketball at Ferrum from 2000 to 2004 under Coach Donna Doonan, scoring 1,497 career points. She is fifth on the Panthers' all-time scoring list. During her tenure at Ferrum, Durham played with four other 1000-point scorers. 

Durham was instrumental in leading Ferrum to a share of the 2003 USA South Athletic Conference women's basketball regular season title. She averaged 15.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game that season in leading the Panthers to a 19-8 overall record, as well as a 10-4 mark in the USA South. 

Durham was a USA South All-Conference first team selection in 2001-02 and 2002-03, as well as a second team pick in 2003-04. She holds the school record for career field goal attempts (1,653). Durham was inducted into the Ferrum College Sports Hall of Fame in 2024. 

After leaving Ferrum, Durham began a career in Roanoke Valley Speech & Hearing Center as an Office Manager, and had most recently been employed with Robins and Morton as a jobsite assistant.

A funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, January 17, 2026, at Serenity Funeral Home Chapel (126 Gilmer Ave. location). The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Friends may visit at Serenity (5214 Airport Road, Roanoke) on Friday, January 16, 2026 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. for viewing. Arrangements by Serenity Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Serenity Funeral Home
5214 Airport Road
Roanoke, VA 24012