Christopher Lee Duckworth

Christopher Lee Duckworth, affectionately known as “Chris” and “Duck” was born November 3, 1974 in Louisville, KY. As a child Chris was a Boy Scout and Eagle Scout troop member. He attended Dupont Manual High School in Louisville, KY where he was a member of the Quick Recall Academic Team. He played basketball in both high school and college. Chris attended Kentucky State University, where he received his degree in Applied Mathematics & Technology/Mechanical Engineering. One of his most memorable moments while at Kentucky State University was winning the 2000-2001 Basketball Conference Championship. Chris also attended the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he studied Aerospace Engineering and was a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE). Prior to settling in Reynoldsburg, OH in 2008, Chris resided in Louisville, KY, Augusta, GA, Atlanta, GA, Newark, OH and Huntsville, AL. On June 25, 2011, Chris was united in holy matrimony to Tatum Puryear. To this union, their first daughter Emerson, was born on August 8, 2012 and their second daughter Isley, was born on September 8, 2014. Chris was a member of New Jerusalem Missionary Baptist Church, where he was Head of the Media Ministry. He was employed at The Boeing Company in Heath, Ohio, where his titles included Contract Management Specialist, Project Manager, and Business and Planning Analyst. He was the President/Chair of the Boeing Black Employees Association Heath, Ohio chapter. Chris was always focused on helping others. He put so many individuals’ needs before his own and impacted so many. What he enjoyed most was family activities and spending time with his wife and daughters by attending and supporting their interests of ballet, basketball, gymnastics, bike riding, traveling, theater productions, and their newfound interest of making episodes for YouTube (Tiny Titans). He loved teaching his daughters to play piano. He also found satisfaction in building and working on home projects for his family and giving his wife time away to relax and rejuvenate. Chris was a youth basketball coach for I9 Sports where he coached his daughters. He also passionately supported Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) schools. Other interests and activities included basketball, building and inventing, teaching and consulting, science, web design, video editing, mentoring, talking, and telling stories, and countless in-depth conversations with his brothers-in-law about a variety of topics. Chris entered eternal rest on Monday, January 25, 2021. He was preceded in death by his father, Morris Duckworth, Jr., mother, Dorothy Jean Duckworth, and his paternal and maternal grandparents. Left to cherish his memory; his loving wife, Tatum Lashele Puryear-Duckworth; daughters, Emerson Gray Duckworth, and Isley Monroe Duckworth; sister, Michelle Lynn Duckworth; stepmother, Michaellee Duckworth; mother-in-law, Virginia S. Puryear; father-in-law, Curtis G. Puryear; three brothers-in-law, three sisters-in-law, a niece, several nephews, and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the GoFundMe campaign at GoFundMe - Emerson and Isley Lost Their Father www.gofundme.com/f/emerson-and-isley-lost-their-father . This campaign has been set up to support Chris’ wife and daughter’s current and future needs. Those interested in recording a video tribute of memories of Chris or recording kind words for the family can email them to the church at: newjmbc1@yahoo.com Due to Covid, a private memorial service will be attended by immediately family only on Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 11:00 am. Extended family and friends may view a Facebook live stream of the memorial by visiting the New Jerusalem MBC Facebook page.