Merle Walley Courtney

Services for Merle Walley Courtney of Thomasville will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, December 8, 2017 at Dawson Street Baptist Church. The Rev. Lee Waller will officiate. Interment will be in Salem Cemetery. Mrs. Courtney died December 5 at the age of 92. Born August 2, 1925 in Greene County, MS, she was the daughter of the late Murdoc and Ethel McEachern Walley. On September 4, 1948 she married the Reverend Dr. Rutledge E. Courtney who preceded her in death. She had five brothers and four sisters who preceded her in death. She graduated from Mississippi College in 1947. She was Assistant Editor of the Baptist Record in 1948 before her marriage. She was a devoted “pastor’s wife” and served alongside her husband at various churches in Mississippi before moving to Thomas County in 1955. She and “Brother Courtney” served at Meigs Baptist Church from 1955-1961, Dawson Street Baptist Church from 1961-1982, and Salem Baptist Church from 1982 – 1989. They served various churches in the county on an interim basis in their retirement years. Mrs. Courtney was also a 4th Grade Teacher in the Thomas County School System from 1965 to 1986. Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Becky and Steve Rainey of Albany, GA; sons and daughters-in-law, John and Stephanie Courtney and Mark and Tracy Courtney of Thomasville; grandchildren John Courtney, Jr., Michael Adams, Kelly Forte, Adam Courtney, Laura Courtney, Mary Claire Courtney; great grandchildren Elizabeth Adams, Philip Adams; Harley Courtney, Jett Courtney, Carson Ann Courtney, Sadie Courtney, Cruise Rutledge Courtney, A.J. Forte, Lila Forte, Hunter Sampson; Owen Rutledge Courtney; sisters-in-law and nephews and nieces. The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday at Allen and Allen Funeral Home. Memorial Donations may be made to the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home at the following address: P.O. Box 329 Palmetto, GA 30268.