Bishop Hester D. Bordeaux
Hester DeVaughan Bordeaux was born in Dumas, Arkansas, the youngest son of Lawrence and Lillie Mae Jones Bordeaux. He attended Public School In Dumas. The family moved to New Haven, Connecticut, where he matriculated at Troup Junior High and James A. Hillhouse High School, and the Boardman Trade School.
Responding to the call of his country, Hester served it well as a member of the Army/Air Force; where he demonstrated the unique quality of charismatic leadership ,a God-given ability as a counselor which would later be channeled into the service of the Lord, when he accepted the call of God into the ministry.
Years later, being commissioned by God to the ministry, on February 5, 1956, under divine guidance and inspiration of God; He, two adult and three children members opened the doors of The Macedonia Church of God in Christ on 77 Greene Street, New Haven, Connecticut. Since its unpretentious beginning the church, under the dynamic leadership of the Right Reverend Bordeaux, has flourished greatly and will continue to grow because it has a visionary leader.
During his lifetime, The Right Reverend Hester D. Bordeaux has distinguished himself by earning several Academic degrees; he has been awarded man honors; he has been Involved In numerous religious and civic activities. To name a few, He graduated from Florida Theological Institute. Earned a Bachelor of Science, from Southeastern University in Greenville, SC,; a Master of Science, from Southeastern University in the U.S. and the Virgin Islands. two Honorary degrees, Doctor of Humane Letters from Shorter College in North Little Rock, Arkansas, and Doctor of Sacred Letters from Eastern American University in Indiana., Metropolitan Collegiate Institute of London, England, an affiliate of Oxford University, Oxford, England, a Doctorate of Philosophy, his Thesis: Comparative Religion.
Bishop Bordeaux, served as President of the Association of Black Clergy; and Chairman Board of Directors of (OIC) Opportunities Industrialization Centers of America - New Haven for ten years consecutively. He was the Founder and Director of the Macedonia Retraining Center, served as Administrative Assistant to late Bishop C.H. Brewer, Sr, and later the late Bishop I.L. Jefferson., served as a member of the Youth Task Force appointed by Mayor Bartholomew Guida; served as Chairman of the Board Dixwell Ministerial Alliance of Greater New Haven, served as Vice-Chairman of the State Council of Economic Development, serves as member of International Rotary Club since 1971; served as a member of the Board of Directors of the New Haven Federal Credit Union. Served a President of the Board of Trustees of the New Haven Theological Seminary and Eastern American University. He has received numerous awards from the Black Coalition of Greater New Haven, the Humanitarian Award from Greater New Haven Business and Professional Men, New England Regional Conference- OIC Clergy Support Award, OIC Torch Bearer Award, Ministers Achievement Award, Outstanding Service Award; Perfect Attendance Award from New Haven Rotary Club . He recently received the 2006 Azusa Award for Pentecostal Pioneer.
Bishop Bordeaux has been married to the former Sharon Y. Alexander for more than 30 years. He is the proud father of Four lovely daughters, Vivian, Sharon, Janine and Heather, One adopted son, Douglas, Five grandchildren, James, Sondra, Dion, Spencer and Mackenize, and two great-grandchildren, Whitney and Cassandra.