Elder Esau Courtney Jr.

Administrative Assistant Esau Courtney, Jr., the second of five children and the eldest son, was born on August 16, 1935, to the union of Bishop Esau Courtney, Sr. and Mother Alverine Courtney. Esau was born in Trenton, New Jersey and has lived in the Trenton area all of his life. Esau loved his parents dearly and always attended to their needs and comfort. As a teenager, Elder Courtney accepted Christ as his personal Savior. He worked earnestly in the church under the leadership of his father, the late Bishop Esau Courtney, Sr., the only pastor under which he served. This granted Elder Courtney the opportunity to be guided by an integral, anointed man of God, while experiencing a rich and fulfilled Christian journey. Esau affectionately referred to as “June”, “Junie” or “Junior”, loved to laugh and always had a witty personality. With a generous spirit and a kind heart, Esau enjoyed helping others especially in their time of need. Esau was educated in the Trenton Public School System. A diligent worker from his youth, Esau held various jobs as a young adult. In 1964 he decided to attend the New Jersey State Police Academy and later graduated from the State Police Academy for municipal police, at Sea Girt, New Jersey. While on the police force he served as a detective and was awarded many honors and awards, retiring in 1994. In November 1957, a young Esau married the love of his life, Katherine Frances Burrell, whom he would often describe as his “peaches and cream”. Their bond was unbreakable, and the two of them worked closely to build a loving home to raise their three children, Duana, Esau 3rd and Bryce. Eld. Courtney took great pride and joy in caring for his family, ensuring that all their needs were met. In 1977, Esau Courtney, Jr. acknowledged his call to the ministry. He was ordained an Elder by his father, the late Bishop Esau Courtney, Sr. and became an associate minister of Holy Trinity Church of God in Christ (now Courtney Temple). Over the years, Elder Courtney served faithfully in a number of capacities in the local church and was later appointed as Assistant Pastor. On the District level, Eld. Courtney served as Y.P.W.W. President for thirty years. On the Jurisdictional level, Eld. Courtney served as President of the Youth Department for several years. Committed to supporting his father in the ministry, Eld. Courtney assisted the late Bishop Esau Courtney, Sr. with overseeing his God-given vision of building the Headquarters for the First Jurisdiction of New Jersey Church of God in Christ, which was completed in 1982. Eld. Courtney faithfully supported his father in overseeing the construction of the Jurisdictional Headquarters which was a monumental undertaking. Because of his love for God, his father and the saints, Eld. Courtney labored endlessly in every facet imaginable to properly maintain the sanctuary. It pleased Eld. Courtney that he could lighten the load from his father while making the edifice comfortable for the saints to worship. In his declining years, Bishop Courtney appointed Eld. Courtney as pastor of Courtney Temple in 1998. Elder Courtney graciously accepted the baton as pastor from his beloved father and Bishop and humbly strived to continue in the path paved by him to do the will of God and serve His flock. In 2005, five years after the demise of Bishop Courtney, the Courtney Temple family transferred their membership to the Pennsylvania Koinonia Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction under the leadership of Bishop Earnest Carl Morris, Sr. The Koinonia Jurisdiction embraced Eld. Courtney and the Courtney Temple family with love. While there, Eld. Courtney served as District Superintendent of the New Garden State District, Jurisdictional Assistant Chairman of Finance, and Administrative Assistant to Bishop Morris. Superintendent Esau Courtney, Jr. lived a full God-fearing life and now has gone to be with God to get his reward. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife Mother Katherine Frances Courtney; his precious daughter Duana L. Randolph (Michael); his devoted sons; Elder Esau Courtney, 3rd and Deacon Bryce R. Courtney; his sisters; Florence Leonard, JoAnn Sweeney (William) and Patricia Owens; his sister-in-law, Sharon Courtney; a godson, Clifford Dukes; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins; the members of Courtney Temple Church of God in Christ.

Elder Esau Courtney Jr.

August 16, 1935 - November 20, 2021