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ORDER OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS DESIGNATING THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF ORCHARD STREET AND EDGEWOOD AVENUE AS “DEACON JOHN E. COTTON, SR. CORNER,” IN HONOR OF HIS CONTRIBUTIONS AS AN ANCHOR, STAPLE, LEADER, AND PILLAR OF THE DWIGHT COMMUNITY AND CITYWIDE.
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WHEREAS, Deacon John Edward Cotten, Sr. was born on May 19, 1948, in Bethel, NC, and was born to the late Deacon Edward Lee and Mother Leatha Cotten, and comes from a long line of pastors and deacons;
WHEREAS, Deacon Cotten has been a longtime resident and supporter of the Dwight community, living in New Haven since the early 1950s;
WHEREAS, he accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior, and joined the Saint Matthew Unison Freewill Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Reverend Doctor Lloyd Taylor;
WHEREAS, after graduating from Wilbor Cross High School in 1966, he was advised by the Reverend Gloria Hope and Bishop Herman Epps that barbering is a good business and trade;
WHEREAS, Deacon Cotten enrolled and graduated from Vaughn’s Barber School in Hartford, CT, and in 1967, he started his professional career as a barber;
WHEREAS, on August 1, 1970, Deacon John Cotten married the former Sandra J Bruton, and through this union, they had two sons, Reverend John Cotten, Jr., and Steven T. Cotten.
WHEREAS, for 22 years, Deacon Cotten worked for Worthy’s Barbershop. In 1989, he opened his own barbershop and beauty salon called Cotten’s Barber Shop.
WHEREAS, from 1989 to 2019, Deacon Cotten was a beacon of light and hope to the community of New Haven, for which he received honor and recognition on a local and state level for his business savvy and professionalism;
WHEREAS, he has been a barber for people in business, politicians, doctors, clergy, and everyday people;
WHEREAS, while being a barber and a businessman, Deacon John Cotten sang in the St. Matthews Youth and Young Adult Choir, as one of its founding members, Intermediate Choir, and Male Chorus, and was a member of the Men’s Club;
WHEREAS, in 1979, he was ordained as a deacon and served at Saint Matthew Unison Freewill Baptist Church from 1979 to 2005. He then joined his son, Rev. John Cotton, Jr. in ministry at the Gospel Mission Baptist Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut;
WHEREAS, in 2011, Deacon Cotten, Sr. as Chairman of the Deacon Ministry, was very instrumental in the success of merging the two churches, Gospel Mission and New Hope Baptist Church in New Haven. In 2016, Deacon Cotten became a Senior Deacon at New Hope Baptist Church, where he continues to serve the church and community while encouraging the next generation of deacons and church leaders; and
WHEREAS, to this day, Deacon John Cotton Sr. can be seen and observed being an anchor and staple in the New Haven community as a retired businessman, barber, active church leader, and a pillar in the community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED by the New Haven Board of Alders that in honor Deacon John Edward Cotten, Sr. for his excellent service in the Dwight Community and city, designating the corner of Orchard Street and Edgewood Avenue as “Deacon John E. Cotton, Sr Corner” in perpetuity, making his legacy in New Haven stand as an official and permanent reminder of his many contributions an anchor, staple, leader, and pillar of the community.
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Department of Transportation, Traffic and Parking is hereby directed and authorized to implement this Order.
BE IT EVEN FURTHER ORDERED that a copy of this Order is hereby forwarded to the City/Town Clerk.