Courtney W. Stevenson

Courtney Henry White Stevenson lived her life praising God for his goodness and grace; and thanking Him for her many blessings in life. And God continued to bless Courtney, placing in her a generous, kind and sweet spirit to carry her through her days on this earth. And when she reached age 106 and her work here on earth was done, God called His sweet angel home to receive her reward, just as He has promised to all those who truly love Him. Love of Family Courtney was born June 12, 1914 in Lynchburg, Virginia, the youngest of the daughters born to her parents Seaton James White, Sr. and Octavia Kelso White. She departed this life on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 while at Bayhealth Kent General Hospital in Dover, Delaware. Affectionately known to her family and childhood friends as "Billie", Courtney's god parents were her uncle William Henry White and his wife, Courtney Amieavle Cruz White, both of whom she was named after. Courtney attended Lynch­burg's public schools and also lived for a time with her aunt and uncle in New York City where she attended grade school in Manhattan. She eventually returned to Lynchburg where she graduated from the Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. After high school graduation, Courtney went off to college, first attending what is now Morgan State University in Balti­more, Maryland. Unfortunately, she was forced to return home due to a lack of funds. Later, she continued her higher edu­cation pursuits, this time attending what is now Delaware State University. She was able to stay with family friends, Dr. Charles Henry, a dentist, and his wife Beatrice, a music instructor at Delaware State College. She graduated from Dela­ware State on her birthday in June 1944 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics Education. She later at­tended New York University in New York City where she graduated in 1952 with a Master of Arts degree in Family Life Education. She completed additional post-graduate studies at the University of Delaware, Iowa State University and Phila­delphia College of Arts and Science in chemistry and chemical technology. Courtney married the love of her life, William Watson "Buddy" Stevenson on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1944, in Wilmington, Delaware. Buddy Stevenson, a lay minister, educator and graduate of Delaware State University and Temple University, was teaching all subjects in a single room when they first met. He later taught middle school, specializing in science during his 39-year teaching career. He also was a minister in the United Methodist Church. Courtney and Buddy's marriage ceremony was officiated by Rev. Barker and witnessed by Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Jeter, Sr. and Buddy's mother, Susie Stevenson. The couple met at a Whatcoat United Methodist Church social, where Buddy's family and Charles and Beatrice Henry attended, while Courtney was a student at Delaware State College and Buddy, a Dover native, was a teacher in the Dover Special School District. Career Educator Courtney began her teaching career in the summer of 1944, first serving at Kruse School in Marshallton, Dela­ware and Garrett Nursery School in Wilmington from 1944-1946. She taught at Clayton Elementary School in Smyrna, Delaware for a brief period, filling in for another teacher from January through June 1946. After that, she taught at the Delaware State College High School from 1946-1951. From 1951 to 1966, she taught at the Louis L. Redding Comprehensive High School in Middletown, Delaware for as a Home Economics/Childcare and Development instructor. In 1966, she began teaching as an Assistant Professor at Delaware State College in Dover, where she later served as chair of the Home Economics Department under College President Dr. Luna I. Mishoe. She first retired from Delaware State University in 1991 but was called back to the school by DSU President Dr. William B. DeLauder to continue serving as the department's chair. She finally retired from the school in 1994 with her teaching career spanning more than 50 years. Community Service Courtney was initiated into the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. through the Epsilon Iota Omega Alumni Chapter in Dover in 1944. After joining the sorority, she held many offices, including serving two terms as Basileus during the years1990-1994. Under Courtney's leadership, the organization focused on the sorority's national agenda of improving the lives of others and providing service to all mankind. In keeping with the National and International Program of Work, Ba­sileus Courtney Stevenson focused on and addressed the crises of the 1990s-World Food Hunger. As Basileus, she wrote: "From the halls of great assemblies to the humblest African village, the influence of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is felt by all who nourish a spark of compassion for the underprivileged, the hopeless and the downtrodden." The goal of her legacy was to heighten public awareness of the world food problem and strengthen solidarity in the struggle against hunger, mal­nutrition and poverty. During her tenure, the chapter reached out to the local, national and international communities to support their efforts in the elimination of world hunger and to provide food for the hungry, undernourished and the poor. They sponsored and participated in a day set aside, October 16, 1991, to address World Hunger Day. The chapter set up community outreach programs and activities to sponsor local, national and international attention to world hunger. In addi­tion, the activities were used to urge communities to support effective hunger relief and develop programs to reduce inci­dences of hunger and famine. Under Courtney's leadership, Epsilon Iota Omega Chapter agreed to assess community food needs and respond accordingly by aligning with and enlisting all of the local grocery chains, such as Thriftway, Super Fresh, Acme and Food City. Alpha Kappa Alpha members stood outside of all the local food stores and solicited food do­nations and donated the proceeds to the homeless shelters and food pantries of Dover - namely, Shepherd's Place, the Ruth M. Dorsey and Whatcoat Homeless Shelter and Catholic Social Service Pantry. Courtney Stevenson was a resident of Dover since coming to the city as a college student in the early 1940's. She was an active member of numerous civic, fraternal and professional organizations, including being a life member of the sorority's Epsilon Iota Omega Chapter where she earlier served as Treasurer. She helped charter the sorority's undergraduate Delta Lambda Chapter on the Delaware State University campus and served as the chapter's first Graduate Advisor. In addition, she was a member of the Dover, Delaware Chapter of the Links, Inc.; and the Order of the Eastern Stars where she was a Past Grand Worthy Matron and Past Delaware State Grand Loyal Lady Ruler. She was a charter member of the Order of the Golden Circle No. 43; member of the Daughters of Isis No. 54 and Heroins of Jericho. Courtney Stevenson remained an active member of Whatcoat United Methodist Church in Dover where her membership spanned more than 80 years. Some years ago, she served the church as Sunday School Superintendent in addition to sing­ing on numerous church choirs and holding numerous church positions. Courtney Henry White Stevenson was preceded into the next life by her husband, William Stevenson; her parents, Seaton and Octavia White; three sisters, Janie Elizabeth White Harrington, Anna White, and Agatha Dorothy White Rice; and her younger brother, Seaton James White, Jr. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Marian S. Winder of Dover, DE; four nieces, Wanda Octavia White Brown of Owings Mills, MD, Georgette S. Stafford of Columbia, MD, Octavia Grippon and Eliza­bell Massey of Dover, DE; six nephews, Seaton James White III of Randallstown, MD, Robert Kelso Rice of Euclid, OH, William J. Massey of Dover, DE, Dennis Ryder of Port Richey, FL, Thomas Stafford of Columbia, MD and Jamie Durant of Dover; a special great-great niece, Tanya Blowe of Dinwiddie County, VA and a host of other relatives and friends.