A Life Story
Nell Courson Pharis, age 99, passed away on Sunday, May 24, 2026. Mrs. Pharis was born on August 20, 1926. She was the daughter of the late Brainard Bruce Courson and Serena Curl Courson. She was born in Treutlen County, Georgia, and resided in Savannah, Georgia from 1943 until 2021. She attended Abraham Baldwin College. She retired from International Paper Company after 30 years of service in 1991. However, she continued working there for one day per week for 10 years giving out payroll checks. She was a Charter Member of Memorial Baptist Church where she was very active for 50 years, serving in various positions such as Church Clerk and Sunday School Teacher. She was also a member of First Baptist Church Savannah for approximately eight years. She was a former president of the Savannah Business and Professional Women’s Club. She served on the Chatham County Board of Equalization and was also a Poll Worker for the Chatham County Board of Elections. She loved to travel and traveled all over the world including England, Japan, and Germany and the United States including Alaska and Hawaii. She resided at Generations of Irmo, in Irmo, South Carolina for the past two years. She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Earl Pharis; and two daughters, Cheryl Pharis Taylor and Celeste Pharis Beall. She is survived by her son, G. Bruce Pharis (Patti) of Chapin, South Carolina; six grandchildren: Robbie (Donna) Taylor, Jody (Sandy) Beall, Dawn Taylor Sanders, Scott (Andrea) Pharis, Kevin (Kayla) Pharis, and Stacy Pharis; numerous great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at Baker McCullough Funeral Home, 7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, Georgia 31406, on Friday, May 29, 2026 with visitation at 10:00 am and funeral service at 11:00 am. Burial will follow immediately at Forest Lawn Memory Gardens. Nell (Granny) was known for her bright and beautiful wardrobe, as well as her vibrant pink lipstick! It would honor her memory to wear bright and cheerful colors to her service.