Billie Ross Courtney

A service to celebrate the life of Billie Ross Courtney will be held at the Thomasville Church of Christ, 711 East Pinetree Boulevard in Thomasville at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 15th. Graveside services will follow immediately at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Billie Ross Courtney lived her life as a Christian. She died peacefully as she slept Tuesday, October 11, at Camellia Gardens Life Care nursing home in Thomasville. She was born November 7, 1917 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to her parents William John Ross of Michigan, and Mary Pearl Gorham of Kentucky, who died when Billie was only one year old. Billie, who was affectionately known to her father as "Betsy," had two sisters, Amanda Ross Williams of Macon, GA and Kathleen Ross Davis of Charlotte, NC, both of whom died before her. An older brother, Calvert Gorham Ross, also preceded her in death. A younger brother, W. J. Ross, survives with his wife Emily in Newport News, VA. Billie married Burton Maxwell Courtney of Thomasville GA on November 5, 1937. They were married almost 42 years when Max died in 1979. Their two sons survive: Burton Marshall Courtney, of Thomasville with his spouse, Hazel Hardin Courtney, and Billy Ross Courtney of Greenville, KY. Billie was blessed with six grandchildren: Rebecca Lynn Courtney spouse, Bobby Rogers of Memphis, TN; Cornelia C. Waldrum spouse Joseph Waldrum of Hendersonville, TN; Audrey C. Fleming spouse Peter Fleming of Nashville, TN; Marsha C. Cravens spouse Thomas Cravens of Knoxville, TN; William Brandt Courtney spouse Shannon Eramo Courtney of Tampa, FL; and Angela Denise Courtney of Tampa, FL. She has nine great-grandchildren. Billie was employed for many years in the accounting office at the V. A. Hospital in Thomasville, and then at Southwestern State Hospital when the change was made to that facility. She retired from State employment in December 1981. She was a very active member of the Thomasville church of Christ throughout her life and was a frequent volunteer in various capacities at Archbold Hospital. In her leisure time, Billie was an avid reader and loved to write both poetry and prose, publishing several works. Friends will be received by the family at Allen & Allen Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 14th. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Sally Townsend Memorial Nursing Scholarship Fund, College of Nursing, 1200 Volunteer Boulevard University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN, 37996, or to the local American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Guests may sign the online register at www.allenfh.com