✦ ✦ ✦
Ida Bea Courtney, 92, was born October 23, 1921, in Desha County, AR, to the late Virgil Lemmitt and Bea Levingston. She peacefully transitioned from this life to receive her eternal reward to be at rest Friday, Sept. 19, 2014, at her home in Halley, AR.
She was educated in the Halley, AR, school system. She was united in holy matrimony to the late Freeman Charlie Courtney on Dec. 25, 1938. To this union was born 11 children. She was a homemaker, mother, loving wife, business woman and educator.
Mother Courtney accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and united with Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Halley, AR. In later years, she became a member of Lightwood Missionary Baptist Church in Halley, AR, where she served on the Mother’s Board and sung in the choir.
She was preceded in death by her husband and three children, Armilla Thomas, Joyce Jiles, and Brenda Courtney.
She leaves to cherish her memories, six daughters, Myrtle Williams and Lillia Catron, both of Las Vegas, NV, Thelma Jones and JoAnn Wright, both of Little Rock, AR, Jennifer (Roosevelt) King of Monticello, AR, and Angela Courtney; two sons, Arthur Courtney of Halley, AR, and Bobby (Joan) Courtney of Las Vegas, NV; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
HOPI PRAYER of The Soul's Graduation:
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there,
I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight
On the ripened grain.
I am the gentle Autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there.
I did not die.
My Spirit is still alive.
She was educated in the Halley, AR, school system. She was united in holy matrimony to the late Freeman Charlie Courtney on Dec. 25, 1938. To this union was born 11 children. She was a homemaker, mother, loving wife, business woman and educator.
Mother Courtney accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age and united with Providence Missionary Baptist Church in Halley, AR. In later years, she became a member of Lightwood Missionary Baptist Church in Halley, AR, where she served on the Mother’s Board and sung in the choir.
She was preceded in death by her husband and three children, Armilla Thomas, Joyce Jiles, and Brenda Courtney.
She leaves to cherish her memories, six daughters, Myrtle Williams and Lillia Catron, both of Las Vegas, NV, Thelma Jones and JoAnn Wright, both of Little Rock, AR, Jennifer (Roosevelt) King of Monticello, AR, and Angela Courtney; two sons, Arthur Courtney of Halley, AR, and Bobby (Joan) Courtney of Las Vegas, NV; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
HOPI PRAYER of The Soul's Graduation:
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there,
I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight
On the ripened grain.
I am the gentle Autumn's rain.
When you awaken in the morning hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry.
I am not there.
I did not die.
My Spirit is still alive.