By: Sharon C. Jenkins Houston and the civil rights movement have lost a towering figure with the passing of Reverend William “Bill” Lawson, the esteemed founder of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, at the age of 95. Reverend Lawson, a lifelong advocate for justice and equality, passed away Tuesday morning, leaving behind a legacy of social activism that spanned decades. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he was raised in Kansas City, Kansas, where he developed a passion for civil rights and social change. In 1955, Rev. Lawson arrived in Houston to work at Texas Southern University (TSU), where he quickly became a central figure in the fight for civil rights. During his tenure at TSU, he and his wife, Audrey Lawson, founded the Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in 1962. Starting with just 13 members, the church grew under his leadership to become a beacon of hope and advocacy in Houston’s Third Ward, eventually boasting over 12,000 members. “Whatever title you may have used to describe him,” remarked Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, “it has been said many times that Rev. Bill Lawson was ‘Houston’s pastor.’” Throughout his life, Rev. Lawson was deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement, hosting luminaries such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at his church and supporting student activists protesting segregation at TSU. “He courageously fought for the rights of Black people at a time when doing so could have meant death,” remarked Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee. “He was a world-class mind who for decades used his voice and influence to advocate for oppressed people in Houston, throughout the U.S., and across the globe.” Beyond his pastoral duties, Rev. Lawson co-founded WALIPP (the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity) in 1996, a non-pro t organization dedicated to advocating for the underprivileged and promoting community development. WALIPP has been instrumental in establishing educational programs and affordable housing initiatives in Houston’s ird Ward. In 2018, Rev. Lawson was appointed to a citywide commission focused on improving gun safety in local schools and communities, highlighting his ongoing commitment to addressing pressing social issues. […]
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