Services for Dr. Herman Clayton Courson, M.D., 82 of Thomasville will be held at 1:30 pm on Saturday December 29, 2012 at The First Baptist Church Chapel in Thomasville. Rev. Milton Gardner and Dr. Jimmy Clanton, DVM will officiate services with interment to follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Thomasville. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Dr. Courson was born on May 21, 1930 at Archbold Hospital to the late George Washington Courson and his wife, the former Nira Bell Poss. He was a graduate of the Thomasville Public School system and then attended The University of Georgia in Athens obtaining his Bachelors of Science degree in 1952. He did post-graduate work at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta before attending the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta where he obtained his MD in 1957. He did his Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine in Augusta and then moved back to Thomasville where he practiced General Internal Medicine from 1961 until 1999. Always wanting to stay current, he maintained his medical license after his retirement and continued to participate in continuing medical education certification. He passed away quietly in his sleep on December 23, 2012. Preceding him in death was his brother George Ward Courson. Survivors include his wife Mary Edna; children Mrs. Laura Karas, wife of Dr. James Karas of Thomasville, Mr. George Scott Courson of Naylor, Georgia, and Mrs. Mary Ethel Waters, wife of Dr. Dale DeWayne Waters of Gadsden, Alabama. Grandchildren include Matthew David Scanlan of Nashville, Tennessee, Lindsay Kate Scanlan of Thomasville, George Scott Courson Jr. of Thomasville, Bobby Case of Thomasville, Katelyn Michelle Waters and Ethan DeWayne Waters of Gadsden, Alabama. He also had a host of nieces and nephews.  Dr. Courson played clarinet in the UGA Marching Band and was an avid Bulldog fan. He served several summers as a medical missionary in Bangalore, India and helped to establish the Bangalore Baptist Hospital. He was a lifelong Christian and loved reading the Bible to his devoted wife. He was known as a kind and compassionate man who cared deeply for his patients. Friends, family, and his beloved former patients are welcome to attend the service.  The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Chapel.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Thomasville/Thomas County Humane Society. — Whiddon-Shiver Funeral Home