Rev. Bill Lawson Death; founder of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and civil rights icon, Has Passed Away at 95: At the age of 95, Reverend William A. Lawson, who established Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and was referred to as Houston’s pastor, passed away gently on Tuesday morning. He had a prominent role in the fight for civil rights. Through the internet, the group maintained contact with its original pastor. “He has completed his time of service here on earth and is now enjoying eternal rest.”
Reverend Lawson fathered four children, including Melanie Lawson, an ABC13 reporter. On the other hand, he was known to generations of Houstonians as a preacher and as a pioneer in the fight for equality. Moving from Kansas City to Houston in 1955 to take a job at Texas Southern University, Reverend Lawson played a big part in the development of Houston into the contemporary city. Included are his contributions spanning seven decades.
The Reverend Lawson responded, “I would love to say that I marched heroically into the civil rights movement but that wasn’t the way it was at all.” Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church was established in the Third Ward under his direction and with support from TSU. The ensemble had thirteen members in 1962. He was a quiet man who spoke softly; he didn’t raise his voice or yell to get what he wanted. His wife Audrey was the one who inspired him to start.
Honey, singing and preaching alone cannot establish a church. To become more active in the community and learn about the issues that the people are facing, you will need to make an effort. This is why, according to Reverend Lawson, “I saw this new church as a community that would serve as both a religious establishment and a social movement.” Before Audrey passed away in 2015, he and Audrey were wed for 61 years. Their marriage produced four children: a son named Eric and three daughters named Cheryl, Roxanne, and Melanie.
Renowned civil rights advocates, including as Martin Luther King Jr., paid repeated visits to the home where the children were raised with the intention of convincing Lawson to move to Atlanta. Instead, he chose to work directly with King and others from this location in his hometown, where he was establishing his church. He declined. In the past, Reverend Lawson said to ABC13, “I chose to stay here because of the people who had started out as 13 and who by the time were probably several hundred.”
Despite his resignation as a pastor in 2004, Reverend Lawson continued to play a vital role in the community and served as a mentor to young people and other leaders. There are currently about 12,000 members of his congregation. This memorial honours the long legacy of Bill Lawson, a kind giant who guided Houston through a turbulent period of change with dignity and humility. “If the young people I can leave behind are people who likewise will have something to believe in and something that is going to drive them to do what is best for the underclass, that is what I’d like to pass on,” said Reverend Lawson.
