HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church was filled with thousands of people on Friday to honor the life of its founder, Reverend William A. Lawson, a civil rights icon and respected clergyman.
Rev. Lawson, often referred to as “Houston’s pastor,” passed away on May 14 at the age of 95.
During the service, more than 20 speakers took the stage to share their memories of the late pastor. Among them were Mayor John Whitmire, former mayor Sylvester Turner, Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Congressman Al Green, Lakewood Pastor Joel Osteen, and Beth Israel’s Rabbi David Lyon.
“Wheeler, you’ve been blessed and highly favored,” an impassioned Turner said. “Houston, we have been blessed and highly favored. To God be the glory for the good he has done. Rest in peace, William Alexander Lawson.”
Rev. Lawson’s daughters, longtime anchor Melanie, Roxanne, and Cheryl, also shared memories together.
“A lot of people have thanked us for sharing our parents and assumed that all that time away from us was painful, like we were cheated, but the truth is we gained so much more as a result of that,” Melanie said.
The previous night, a celebration filled with songs and stories honored the man who grew Wheeler Avenue from 13 parishioners in 1962 to more than 12,000 today.
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Rev. Lawson retired in 2004 but continued as Pastor Emeritus. He was a pastor, an equality trailblazer, and a bridge builder.
“Despite his soft-spoken demeanor, Rev. Lawson’s impact was profound. He had a unique ability to convey powerful and sometimes difficult messages with gentle words, inspiring change and reflection,” said Martin Cominsky, CEO and president of Interfaith Ministries, to the packed cathedral.
“I will cherish the gift that he gave me. I am honored to have known him, to get that big hug from him, that big smile that made my heart melt, and a prayer that would carry me through the day,” Eileen Morris of The Ensemble Theater said during the service.
WATCH: Lawson Legacy: How Reverend Bill Lawson became Houston’s Pastor
The public was invited to pay their respects to Lawson, who lay in repose earlier that day.
Lawson, who worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement, founded Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church with his wife, Audrey. The couple was married for 61 years before she passed away in 2015.
