Venell Couch Stanley

Venell Couch Stanley, 94, of Albany, died peacefully at The Phoenix at Albany on Monday, November 14, 2022. She was born in Norcross, GA on April 6, 1928, to the late Isham Nesbit Couch and Jimmie Bell Garner Couch, the 7th of 11 siblings. When she was a little girl, her family moved to Grayson where she played basketball and later graduated from Grayson High School.

After graduation, Venell began a work career spanning 50 plus years. In 1955, she became the bookkeeper for the Gwinnett County Schools and hand wrote the payroll for the entire school system. During the 1970’s, she joined Avon Products as a District Manager. While at Avon she and her 100+ sales reps broke many sales records and won trips both at home and abroad. With her knack for sales, she opened her own clothing store in Athens, GA and remained in retail sales until her retirement in her 70’s. Nothing made her happier than “going to work”.

In 1947, Venell married John King Stanley, the smartest and most handsome man she ever knew. They were married for 60 years until his death in 2007. She was also predeceased by her parents; sisters Evelene (Walt) Burton, Margie (H. T.) Williams, and Mary Ann (James) Simonton; brothers Neal Couch, M. G. (O’Reese) Couch, Marlyn (Evelyn) Couch), Elkin Couch, Roy Couch, and Edgar (Lynette) Couch. Also, her mother and father-in-law, Ethel and Early Stanley and brothers-in-law E. J. (Katherine) Stanley and Will (Grace) Stanley.

Venell is survived by her daughter and the love of her life, Gayle Stanley Mosby of Albany, GA, and her husband, E. R., who was like a son to her and John. She is also survived by the three granddaughters that she adored: Margaret (Sid) Newton of Waynesboro, GA, Meredith (Sam) Lightsey of Simpsonville, SC, and Melissa (Dan) Hill of Albany, GA. And, six great-grandchildren: Virginia Lane Crawford, Albany, GA; Claudia Crawford, Augusta, GA; Hayley and Ansley Lightsey, Simpsonville, SC; and Mosby and Jett Hill, Albany, GA; Great-grandchildren by marriage Cleve Newton, Winston-Salem, NC, Catherine Newton, Athens, GA, and Harry Newton, Waynesboro, GA. She is also survived by a sister Edith (W. T.) Kemp, Cartersville, GA, and two sisters in law: Kathleen Couch of Loganville, GA and Lynette Couch of Snellville, GA. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Venell was an immaculate housekeeper and accomplished gardener. She loved to travel, collect glassware and was always “dressed to the nines!” She loved beautiful clothes and jewelry and decorating her home. But, most of all, she loved spending time with her daughter, her granddaughters, and her great-grandchildren.

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