Thelma Louise Gray Courson

Thelma Courson, 84, a lifelong resident of Phenix City, Alabama, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, who she loved dearly.

She is survived by her sons Russell Warren Courson and Clarence David Courson, her daughter-in-law Johanna Courson, and her grandchildren Caroline Courson Walker (Trey), Cat Courson, and Caleb Courson. She was the daughter of Freeman Earl Gray and Thelma Eugenia Lawrence Gray, but sadly, her mother passed away during childbirth. Since she was the 10th of 10 children, there was concern regarding her well-being in a houseful of children without a mother to care for a baby, so her aunt took her home and became the only mama she ever knew. She always said that she realized that was where she was supposed to be, because her aunt and uncle, Doug and Mamie Lawrence Kirven, had three children of their own, and they were each born seven years apart. She came along seven years later.

Funeral services will be officiated by Dr. Larry Bryars at 2:00 PM EDT Tuesday, September 30, 2025 in the chapel of Vance Brooks Funeral Home in Phenix City, AL The family will receive friends Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 until 2:00 pm EDT, one hour prior to the service, at the funeral home.

Thelma was preceded in death by her loving husband, Kenneth Warren Courson, her birth parents Freeman Earl and Thelma Eugenia Lawrence Gray, the parents that raised her, Uncle Doug and Mamie Lawrence Kirven, and all of her siblings: Virginia Gray Robinson, Edna Earl Gray Smith, Julian Gray, Annette Gray Hazard, Eugenia Gray Wiesner, Dell Gray Thompson, Warren Terrell Gray, Syble Gray Norris, Harry Gray, Zera Kirven Newman, Lawrence Kirven, and J.W. Kirven.

Thelma grew up in the Long Street (Seale Road) area of Phenix City, and was a lifelong member of Epworth Methodist Church, where she was the longest tenured member. She was educated in the public schools of Phenix City, attending Girard Elementary School, Central Junior High School, and Central High School, where she was a proud member of the Class of 1959. While in high school, she was a member of the Glee Club with Mrs. B.F. Register, and she also played basketball with St. Patrick’s Church.

She and the love of her life, Ken, were the first couple to be married at the south Phenix City location of Epworth Methodist Church, which has since moved to their fourth permanent location on US 280/431, and they were very active in the church with their family. She was also incredibly involved in the life of her children, serving as a school volunteer, PTA member, band booster, along with volunteering with youth baseball and football leagues in town. In addition, she was also a tremendous athlete in her own right, playing softball, golf, tennis, and bowling. It meant so much to her that her children and grandchildren were involved in the fields of education and healthcare, striving to give back to their communities.

There is no doubt that she loved The Lord and welcomed Jesus with open arms when He came to take her home. She and her beloved Ken are finally together again, and while they’re fishing, hunting, playing golf, or bowling, she’s telling him all about their grandchildren. She was deeply loved and will be missed.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations Embrace Alabama Kids (formerly the United Methodist Children’s Home in Montgomery, AL) at www.embracealkids.org, St. Jude at www.stjude.org or the American Cancer Society at www.donate.cancer.org