Iris "Lee" (Durrance) Courson Carroll

Heaven welcomed a kind hearted and compassionate lady, Iris “Lee” Durrance Courson Carroll, age 81, of Summerville, SC and formerly of Blackshear, GA on Saturday, March 5, 2022 at her residence. She was the widow of Claude D. Courson and Melvin R. Carroll.

Mrs. Carroll was born February 6, 1941 in Alma, GA, daughter of the late Harley Durrance and his late wife, Iris Taylor Durrance Courson. After raising four sons with husband, Claude, she worked many years at Wall’s IGA in Blackshear, GA as the Deli Manager, where she was known for her delicious entrees and desserts. After retirement and the passing of her “45 years of love”, Claude, Mrs. Carroll met the second “love of her life” in 2011 and quickly married in 2012. As in her own words, “we didn’t have much time to waste”. They traveled together, worshiped together, enjoyed weekly league bowling together and spent time with family and friends until Mel’s passing in 2018.

Mrs. Carroll was a former member of Shady Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Alma, GA for 53 years, where she served as Sunday School teacher, WMU Director, and Secretary of Sunday School. She joined Miles Road Baptist Church in Summerville, SC in 2012, serving in the Joy Choir and providing the card ministry for her Sunday School Class. Her favorite pastimes included cooking, word search books, striking up conversations with complete strangers and making new friends.

She was preceded in death by her granddaughter, Alissa Louise Courson, her brothers, David Durrance, Clyde Durrance, Lamar Durrance, Harold Durrance, Harry Courson, and Larry Courson; her sister and brother-in-law, Bruce and Lera Hyers; brother-in-law, Earl Lovell; and sister-in-law, Glenda Curl Durrance.

Survivors include her sons and daughters, Billy Courson (Darlene), Alma, GA, Bailey Courson (Wendy), Summerville, SC, Bobby Courson and Calvin Courson, both of Alma, GA, Vickie Szczepkowski (Edward), Jamie Slepecki, Rodney Carroll (Deane), all of Reading, PA, Ronald Slepecki (Kyongja), Anchorage, AK, Jeffrey Slepecki, Wallingford, CT, Brian Slepecki (Kelly), North Charleston, SC, and Dan Carroll (Melissa), Springfield, MA. Grandchildren include, Amy Courson, Alma, GA, Samantha Taylor (Dustin), Waycross, GA, Daniel Courson (Devon), Waycross, GA, Joseph Courson (Heather), Springfield, GA, Dalton Courson, Alma, GA, Chandler Courson and Connor Courson, both of Summerville, SC, Dillon Courson, Alma, GA, Nicole Palmer and Cory (Haylee) Slepecki, all of North Charleston, SC, Amber Klassen (Christopher), Owings, MD, Bethany Ann Carroll, Valdosta, GA, and special granddaughters, Ivy Mock and LeeAnn Harrison. Great-grandchildren include Eliza and Dawson Taylor, Hannah Faye and John Daniel Courson, all of Waycross, GA, Elloree Palmer, North Charleston, SC, Jaxon Lee Courson, Springfield, GA, Addie and Gracie Klassen, of Owings, MD, and Scott and Landen Lopez of Valdosta, GA . Sisters include, Ora Lee Hagan, Roselyn Lovell, and Linda Palmer (Al), all of Blackshear, GA. Brothers include, Howard Courson (Mickey), Monticello, FL, Aaron ”Cotton” Durrance (Glenda), Blackshear, GA, Homer Courson (Kathy), Alma, GA, Glenn Durrance (Carolyn), Wetumpka, AL and sisters-in-law, Juanita Durrance, Roberta, GA, Marie Durrance, Wetumpka, AL, Judy Durrance, Waycross, GA and Pat Courson, Monticello, FL. Special friends include Sean, Jacquelyn and Connie Britton.

Family and friends are invited to attend her visitation in South Carolina on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 from 4 o'clock to 6 o'clock at James A. Dyal Funeral Home in Summerville, SC. A funeral service will begin at 6 o'clock.

A funeral service will take place on Friday (3/11/22) at 3 p.m. in the chapel of Hart Funeral Home with Rev. Edmund Thrift officiating. Burial will follow in the Shady Grove Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 1-3 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Charleston 4975 Lacross Road #200A North Charleston, SC 29406 or locally to Shady Grove Baptist Church, 2909 GA-203, Alma, GA 31510.

Sympathy may be expressed by signing online at www.hartfh.com.

Hart Funeral Home of Blackshear is in charge of local arrangements. 

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