Bank of Holly Springs

Donald Samuel Courson

Donald Samuel Courson, 95, died January 24, 2018, at Alliance HealthCare in Holly Springs. He was a retired farm manager with the Mississippi State Experiment Station.

He was born April 24, 1922, in Winborn, to Lester Courson and Carrie Smith Courson. After graduating from high school and completing one year at Holmes Junior College, Don enlisted in the U.S. Air Force where he served until the end of World War II. While in the Air Force, he was a member of a 10-man crew of a B-17 that made bombing raids on Berlin, Germany. On their 14th raid, the B-17 was hit, forcing an emergency crash landing over the Baltic Sea into Sweden where Don and the crew remained prisoners for the next 14 months. Recently a book titled “Lady Liberty” has been written about their extraordinary exploits and service.

Services were held Saturday, January 27, 2018, at 2 p.m. at Pine Grove Baptist Church. Burial was in Bethel Cemetery. Holly Springs Funeral Home was in charge.

Donald Courson is survived by nephews, Jackie Courson, Eddie Grisham and David Grisham; and nieces, Rita Stewart and Dawn Page. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia Simpson Courson; parents, Lester and Carrie Smith Courson; brother, Billy Courson; and nephew, Keith Courson.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pine Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, 6777 Hwy. 5, Hickory Flat, MS 38633.

Paid obituary

Holly Springs South Reporter

P.O. Box 278
Holly Springs, MS 38635
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