Obituary
Dr. James Louis Courtney

This information generously donated to the Louisiana Genealogy Project - African American Archives by: Don E. Johnson

**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 ******************
COURTNEY,    DR. JAMES LOUIS
A native of Palestine, Texas, he died at 5:47 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000,
at the home of his daughter in Baton Rouge. He was a retired veterinarian
with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In the summer of 1964, he entered
Texas A&M University, enrolling in the pre-veterinary medicine program. He
received a bachelor's degree in veterinary science in 1967, and a doctorate
in veterinary medicine in 1970. He was the first African American to receive
an undergraduate degree at Texas A&M. He was also the first African American
to receive a DVM at Texas A&M. In his honor, the Texas A&M University Black
Graduate Student Association established the James L. Courtney Achievement
Award. To date, more than 180 deserving students have received this award.
Except for a short time in private practice, he spent his career with the
U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Meat & Poultry Inspection Program. His
career afforded recognition, awards, certificates of appreciation and
commendation for his ability to organize, to motivate and to lead personnel.
He received the same recognition in his churches and communities in which he
lived. He is survived by his devoted wife of 30 years, Alva Henley Courtney;
a daughter, Carla S. Courtney of Baton Rouge; a son, Kevin Mitchell and
fiancee JoAnne of Houston; mother, Maeisa Carr of Galveston, Texas; brothers,
Cornelius Courtney and wife Barbara of Texas City, Texas, John Courtney and
wife Wanell of Galveston, and F.L. Courtney and wife Marilyn of Scottsdale,
Ariz.; granddaughter, Keara Mitchell of Houston; aunts, uncles, nieces,
nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and friends. He was
preceded in death by his twin sons, Ashton and Ashley Courtney; father, Louis
Courtney; and stepfather, Vernon Carr. Wake at Field's Funeral Home, 2702
Avenue L, Galveston, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Services at Reedy
Chapel AME Church, 2013 Broadway, at 11 a.m. Thursday, with the Rev. James W.
Ford officiating. Interment in Grace Memorial Cemetery, Hitchcock, Texas. He
will be greatly missed and always remembered for the person he was and strove
to be.