Ray Coursey

Tommy Ray Coursey, 75, passed away, peacefully, Thursday, October 10, 2019 at Ogeechee Area Hospice in Statesboro. He was born in Bulloch County, GA on July 20, 1944, the son of Joe Coursey, Sr., and Julia  “Bell” Coursey. He resided in Candler County for 73 years of his life. He was a 1962 graduate of Metter High School. He served in the United States Army at Fort Benning in Columbus, GA.

At an early age, Ray showed an aptitude for sales and entrepreneurship. He peddled fruits and vegetables as a teenager; he bought, repaired, and sold used cars even before he was of legal driving age.  By the age of 17, Ray had secured a job with Mr. Burton Franklin as manager of Ready Finance Company. He later became a successful home builder. His efforts and expertise allowed many people to realize their dream of homeownership through the use of FHA loans.  Ray greatly enhanced the living conditions for countless citizens in Candler and surrounding counties by providing them with brand new modest brick homes or mobile homes.

In 1966 he married the former Judy Taylor, to this union one son, David Ray, was born. In 2000, he married the former Charlotte Akridge Jones and became step-father to Justin and Catie Jones.

Ray had a great love for his family and friends. He was a true Business Icon. He found great pleasure in hard work and salesmanship. He enjoyed being outdoors, caring for the various trees that he planted and watching the great variety of birds that would visit his yard.  In recent years, he enjoyed an occasional trip to Biloxi, MS.

 Ray was a member of Metter First Baptist Church. He attended church, faithfully, until his health declined.

He was preceded in death by his loving parents and his brother, Joe Coursey, Jr. He leaves to cherish fond memories, his wife, Charlotte Coursey of Metter; one son and his wife David and Sandy Coursey of Metter; 2 grandsons Darin and Dentin Coursey; one grand-daughter, Ellah Rae Coursey, all of Metter; one step-son and his wife, Justin and Amy Jones of Savannah; one step-daughter and her husband, Catie and Phillip McWhirter of Athens; two step-grandsons, Zachary McWhirter and Langston Jones; two step-granddaughters, Sophia McWhirter and Eliza Alice Jones; two sisters-in-law, June Coursey and Stella Akridge; one niece and her husband, Heather C. and Jim Donaldson; one nephew and his wife, Chip and Dawn Coursey; his extended family,  Ronnie Byrd, Brenda Shuman, Judy Todd, Tammy Coursey, Lisa Lynn Owens, Lesa and Tim Brown.

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