Obituaries

Rutledge Elwood Courtney, a member of Dawson Street Baptist Church in Thomasville, died Aug. 29 at his residence. He was 87.

An Army veteran of World War II, Courtney was a graduate of Mississippi College and New Orleans Seminary. He first served as pastor in Mississippi before moving to Meigs Baptist Church in 1956.

Courtney would stay there for five years before accepting the pastorate of Dawson Street Church in Thomasville, where he would serve for 21 years. He also served as pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Pavo and in several interim positions.

Courtney is survived by his wife of 56 years, Merle Walley Courtney; brothers Morris Courtney of Neely, Miss. and Jack Courtney of Wiggins, Miss.; a sister, Esther Hicks of Gainesville, Fla.; his daughter, Becky Rainey of Albany; sons John Courtney of Thomasville and Mark Courtney of Lawrenceville; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Delmar Handley, associate pastor emeritus at First Baptist Church of Rochelle died Aug. 31 at Dorminy Medical Center in Fitzgerald. He was 70.

In the ministry since 1965, Handley served many churches including, Hacklebarney Baptist Church in Blackshear, Deenwood Baptist Church in Waycross, Stokesville Baptist Church in Axon, Brookfield Baptist Church in Tift County, Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Rebecca, Tabernacle Baptist Church in Rochelle, Callie Garbutt Baptist Church in Fitzgerald, Terrell Baptist Church in Worth County and Macedonia Baptist Church in Telfair County.

He is survived by his wife, Betty Handley of Rochelle; four children, Debbie Pollard of Puyallup, Wash. and Rick Handley, Kay H. Cruz, Sharon H. McCrimmon and Mike Handley, all of Fitzgerald; two sisters, Jerell Morgan of Ocilla and Shelby Ritch of Dublin; fourteen grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Lennie McDaniel, 100, died Aug. 25 at her home in Baxley after an extended illness. A lifelong resident of Appling County and charter member of Midway Baptist Church in Baxley, she taught preschoolers in Sunday School for more than 50 years and was very active in WMU, training union and other church activities.

She is survived by two sons, Howard McDaniel of Vidalia and Parkey McDaniel of Baxley; two sisters, Lela Powell of Baxley and Lorene Staback of Dallas, Texas; one brother, Lotis Altman of Baxley; three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.