Gerard (Jerry) Cousin

Chair of Black Catholic Ministry
Holy Trinity, Gainesville

Gerard (Jerry) Cousin was born in New Orleans Louisiana, the third child of Melvin and Naomi Cousin; Jerry has four sisters and three brothers. He attended K - 3rd grade at Saint Joseph Catholic School in Convent, Louisiana and returned to New Orleans to complete school. In November 1967, Jerry joined the U.S. Army, serving 26 years before retiring. During his career, he served in Asia, Europe, the Middle East and multiple locations within the United States. Most of his assignments were in the 82nd Airborne Division and XVIII Airborne Corps as an Infantry Paratrooper. After retiring from the U.S. Army, Jerry joined General Dynamics Information Technology, continuing to support the military and other government agencies worldwide for the next 24 years.

Jerry and his wife Song have been married for 50 years. They have been parishioners at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Gainesville, Virginia for over 13 years. They have two children and one grandson. Before moving to Northern Virginia, Jerry and Song lived for ten years between Hawaii and Germany, as Jerry served as the Senior Director of International Operations for General Dynamics Information Technology.

He is a member of the Knights of Peter Claver (Treasurer of the Northern States District) and the current Chairperson of Black Catholic Ministries for the Diocese of Arlington; past Director of Halawa Prison Ministry, Diocese of Honolulu; and co-chairperson of the SEARCH Program, Diocese of Raleigh. He currently coordinates a weekly rosary for an end to COVID-19 and for an end to racism. Jerry is the 2019 recipient of the Father Augustus Tolton & Mother Mary Lang Award.

Jerry is committed to eradicating racism in our country by serving within the Dioceses of Arlington and on two national committees within the Knights of Peter Claver: a) Dignity of Black Lives - Black Lives Matter and b) Racism.