On January 26, 1935, God blessed this world with the life of Ouida Collins Courson. On September 8 2025, at the age of 90, she went home to be with the Lord, leaving behind a legacy of love, faith, and family that will be cherished forever.
Ouida grew up with a deep sense of determination and care for others. She began her career as a telephone operator and, through hard work and dedication, retired as a manager with BellSouth. But her true calling was not just found in her work—it was in the way she touched lives.
She married the love of her life, the late Jack Wade Courson Jr., and together they built a home filled with love and laughter. Their union was blessed with a daughter, Wanda Taylor, who was the joy of Ouida’s heart. The bond they shared was unshakable, and Wanda carries forward her mother’s strength, faith, and kindness.
Ouida had a gift for storytelling, and she especially loved exploring family history. Through her passion for genealogy, she kept alive the stories of generations past, making sure no one was forgotten and that every branch of the family tree was celebrated.
Her faith was the cornerstone of her life. As a devoted member of Faith Baptist Church, she served faithfully as Treasurer and as a beloved Sunday School teacher for many years. Her church family knew her not only as a leader but also as a woman of deep devotion who lived out her faith with humility and grace.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jack Wade Courson Jr.; her parents, Herbert and Allie Mae Collins; her sister and brother-in-law, Mattie and John Bumpas; and her dearly loved son-in-law, James Ricky Taylor.
Ouida leaves behind her daughter, Wanda Taylor; granddaughter, Ashley Towery (Jerry); grandsons, Justin Taylor (Britney), Rick Taylor (Ashley), and Michael Taylor (Rachelle); as well as her cherished great-grandchildren, Andrew Towery, Allie Brooke Towery, Parker Taylor, Preston Taylor, Peyton Taylor, Drake Taylor, Ryan(Taylor), Eric Michael (Brynn), Vivian Milsap (Tyler), Savannah Taylor, and Jackson Taylor and two great-great grandchildren Asher Taylor and Zelda Taylor. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Jo Collins. Each one of them carries a piece of her heart and will forever be blessed by her love.
To know Ouida was to know kindness,and warmth. She could make a room feel brighter just by being in it, and she had a way of making everyone feel seen and loved.
Though her time on earth has come to a close, her influence will live on in the lives she touched. Her family, her friends, and her church will carry forward the lessons she taught—not through words alone, but through the way she lived.
Ouida is now reunited with her loved ones in the presence of the Lord. Her story does not end here. It continues in the love she gave, the faith she lived, and the memories she left behind.
Visitation will be held at Faith Baptist Church on Thursday September the 11th from 5-8 p.m. Her funeral service will take place on Friday September 12th at 11:00 a.m. |