Rvonia Courson

Rvonia Courson, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 89. Born on August 22, 1935, she was the seventh of eight siblings. Raised in a family marked by both love and hardship, her childhood was shaped by the loss of her father at a young age and a strict, hardworking mother who instilled in her the values of perseverance and strength. Despite the challenges, Rvonia’s determination and spirit always shone bright. Her early life was filled with the memories of basketball games, homemade clothes, and a strong family bond, all of which shaped the woman she became.

Rvonia's life was one of resilience and hard work. She married Tracy Courson in 1953, and together, they built a family and a life filled with love, faith, and ambition. She was a devoted mother to four children, outliving two sons, Glynn and Kenny, whose loss she carried with grace and strength. Rvonia worked tirelessly to provide for her family, starting from sewing at Hazlehurst Manufacturing, to selling cosmetics, and later becoming an entrepreneur in her own right. Her first business, Courson’s Cloth Shop, became a great success, earning recognition from Simplicity Pattern Company for selling more patterns than any independent retailer in Georgia. She and her family celebrated the achievement at an awards banquet, an experience that was both humbling and thrilling for them.

In her later years, Rvonia opened Courson’s Country Kitchen, a beloved restaurant that served home-cooked meals to the community for over 20 years. Known for her delicious, made-from-scratch meals, she became a staple in the lives of those who walked through her doors, whether they were seeking comfort food or a kind heart. Rvonia’s restaurant was more than a business. It was a place of love, where she fed those in need. Though she turned down opportunities for expansion due to her commitment to family, her legacy of hard work, determination, and hospitality will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. Rvonia Courson leaves behind a family that cherishes her memory, and a community that will forever remember the warmth and joy she brought to all.

Rvonia is preceded in death by her husband, Tracy Courson; her sons, Glynn Courson and Kenny Courson; her parents, George and Rose Williamson; her granddaughter, Katy Courson; her brothers, Buck Williamson, GE Williamson, Pete Williamson, Leon Williamson, and Ronald Williamson; and her sisters, Madie Williamson Adams, Almedia Williamson Crosby, and Lucille Williamson Odom. 

Rvonia’s family includes her daughters, Ann Courson Simmons (Jack), and Jill Courson, all of Hazlehurst; her grandchildren, Steve Haynes (Priscilla), Carl Haynes (Andrea), Brent Haynes (Angie), Chris Simmons (Julie), and Kayce Courson, all of Hazlehurst, and  Kenny J. Courson (Megan), of Americus; her great-grandchildren, Trace Haynes (Stefanie) of Enterprise, AL, Tessa Haynes of Atlanta, Carley McNeal (Gray) of Hazlehurst, Hannah Calhoun (Cameron) of Baxley, Cassie Haynes of Hazlehurst, Gracie Haynes of Clearwater, FL, Ethan Haynes (Rayanna) of Douglas, Maggie Haynes of Marietta, Hayden Simmons and Hunter Simmons, both of Hazlehurst, and Brileigh Graham-Jones and Jaycee Graham-Jones, both of Atlanta; her great-great grandchildren, Sydni McNeal, Maverick McNeal, and Sawyer McNeal, all of Hazlehurst, and Reese Calhoun of Baxley; and several nieces and nephews. 

Visitation and funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at Hazlehurst Church of God with visitation beginning at 1:00 P.M. until just prior to the service at 2:00 P.M.

Interment will follow in Palms Memorial Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Trace Haynes, Ethan Haynes, Kenny J. Courson, Cameron Calhoun, and Gray McNeal.

Honorary pallbearers will be the nurses and staff of Hazlehurst Court and Regency Hospice, as well as all of the staff and customers of Courson’s Country Kitchen. 

Wainright-Parlor Funeral Home is in charge of all arrangements.

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