“Coach” Malcolm Otis Courtney

“Coach” Malcolm Otis Courtney, 89, of Hattiesburg, died February 2, 2018, at Asbury Hospice House in Hattiesburg, after succumbing to dementia.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Saturday, February 10, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hattiesburg, with burial following at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cemetery.
Malcolm was born in Lamar County May 18, 1928. He graduated from Lumberton High School and attended Pearl River Junior College for one year on a Baseball Scholarship as a pitcher. Malcolm was a WWII veteran, having served in the United States Navy on the Submarine Trumpet Fish from 1946 to 1948. After returning to south Mississippi, Malcolm married his high school sweetheart, completed his education at Mississippi Southern College (USM) and began a 34 year career in education. While at USM, Malcolm helped build their first golf course and competed on the golf team.
“Coach” Courtney coached in Seminary and Liberty before becoming the head coach of Bassfield High School. While at Bassfield, the Yellowjackets won the Apache Conference, and “Coach” Courtney was awarded Coach of the Year and coached the south squad in the Mississippi Association of Coaches (MAC) All Star game in 1970. After Bassfield, “Coach” Courtney became Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at Monticello High School and also served as President of the MAC. After completing his Master’s in Driver’s Education from USM, Malcoln left coaching to work in the State Department of Education of Mississippi as a Director of Driver’s Education. He completed his career in the Superintendent’s Office in Lawrence County. When he wasn’t coaching or working, he enjoyed spending time outdoors with friends and family. After retirement, he worked at hunting, fishing, golfing and grandkids.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Leona Harrington Courtney; daughters, Paula Fox of Mobile, Alabama and Robin Jones (Vann) of Hattiesburg; sons, Anthony (Barbara) of Clinton and Gregory (Terri) of Cat Spring, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 6 great-grandsons and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Courtney was preceded in death by his parents, Oliver and Ida Entrekin Courtney of Lumberton and siblings, Dudley Courtney of Dandridge, Tennessee, Fay Miller and Sarah Cameron, both of Lumberton, and Patt Jopp of Webb.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of VA of Hattiesburg, The Claiborne of Hattiesburg, Merit Health Wesley, Hattiesburg Health and Rehab, Patients Choice, Forrest General Hospital and especially Asbury Hospice House.
The family would like to suggest, in lieu of flowers, a donation to Asbury Hospice House or the “Foundation for Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks” at www.foundationmwfp.com in memory of Malcolm O. Courtney. Thanks to each of you for all your kind words, thoughts and prayers.