Kenneth Courtney

Visitation will be Thursday 4:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Brandon Baptist Church in Brandon. The funeral service will be at 1:00 pm at Brandon Baptist Church followed by interment at Parkway Memorial Gardens in Ridgeland.

Ken was born August 7, 1936 to the late Marvin & Edna Courtney of Bassfield, Mississippi and was a graduate of Bassfield High School. After high-school Ken would leave Mississippi to attend college in California where he would meet another Mississippian, Hilda Davis. Ken and Hilda were married on January 25, 1962. They were married for 55 years.

The Courtney's would make their way back to Mississippi but not before a brief stay in Birmingham, Alabama, where their daughter Kimberly was born. Upon relocating to Jackson, Mississippi, Ken's career in business began, followed later by the birth of two sons, Mark and Michael.

Courtney was President of Sun-Pine Corporation, a producer of household cleaning products, which was born on wholesale row in Jackson in 1965. The company would eventually relocate to Brandon. Back in Sun Pine's early days, bottling and labeling was truly a hands-on process. A 55-gallon drum was used for mixing, each bottle was placed under a spigot by hand, filled and then hand-labeled. Today, through automation, the company produces 25 million bottles of household cleaning products a year. In 1998, Sun-Pine purchased a facility in Canton that serves as the primary production location. Courtney continued to serve as President of the company that he owned with his sons, Mark and Michael up until his death.

Ken was a friend of God. He loved studying the scriptures and reading Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister George MacDonald. He served as an ordained elder at CrossWinds Church for over 50 years where he delivered many thoughtful sermons and meaningful bible studies. He was a helper of the poor and needy. Countless people over the years have found themselves beneficiaries of his extravagant generosity.

Ken dearly loved his family. It was his great joy for him to gift Hilda, Kimberly, Mark and Michael with wonderful life experiences. Over time, this included Melinda, Amy and five grand-children. From endless family trips, to school dance recitals, football games, deer hunting and dining out, Ken created a loving, liberating culture which overflowed into the larger community.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Hilda Davis Courtney, his sister Edith Baughman, his sons Mark (Melinda) of Brandon, Michael (Amy) of Jackson, grandchildren Zachary Allen Courtney, Cassidy Lee Michel, Leigh Ashley Courtney, Daniel Clayton Courtney and Caroline Michael Courtney. He was preceded in death by his daughter Kimberly Courtney Michel.