Melda Hoover Courtney

Melda Hoover Courtney, a longtime resident of Baton Rouge and a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died Thursday, Dec. 17, 2009, at Sherwood Manor Nursing Home. She was 80, a graduate of Doyle High School in Doyle and a former state employee at the Department of Welfare. Ms. Courtney was a member of Florida Boulevard Baptist Church and participated in the singles group at Parkview Baptist Church. She was a world traveler known for her generosity and giving nature. She enjoyed and took pride in decorating her home and collecting Hummel figurines, as well as a collection from all over the world. In her younger years, Ms. Courtney often traveled to her second home in California. She is survived by three sons, Gerald Courtney, of Baton Rouge, Kelvin and wife Debra Courtney, of Channelview, Texas, and Billy and wife Nancy Courtney, of Central; daughter, Judy Courtney, of Baton Rouge; five grandsons, Jeremy, Jonathan, Jordan, Daniel and Landon Courtney; three granddaughters, Vanessa and husband Russ Ladnier, Christine Courtney and Janalyn Shively; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her father, Clinton J. Hoover; mother, Willie Warner Hoover; brother, Terrell Hoover; and grandson, Corey Courtney. The Courtney family appreciates Faye Hull for her longtime friendship, dedication and service to Ms. Courtney. Pallbearers will be her grandsons and grandson-in-law. Visitation will be held at Greenoaks Funeral Home on Sunday, Dec. 20, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Visitation continues at the funeral home on Monday, Dec. 21, from 11 a.m. until time of services at noon. Interment will follow in Resthaven Gardens of Memory.