Services to commemorate the life of Rev. William Lawson, a revered Houston pastor and civil rights leader, are scheduled next week at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. With a legacy as vast as the impact he made, officials anticipate a turnout befitting his profound influence.
Addressing the media less than 24 hours after Rev. Lawson’s passing, Wheeler’s senior pastor Dr. Marcus Cosby expressed his gratitude.
“We celebrate our founder’s life. We’re grateful for the impact he has made not just here at Wheeler Avenue, but in Houston, Texas, and even across this nation and around the world,” Cosby said during a press conference at the church.
Lawson was known as a prominent voice for the civil rights movement in Houston and fought to advocate for the marginalized and disenfranchised.
“Reverend Lawson loved Houston, Texas, and he was significantly concerned about the underclasses, about those who were the impoverished, that is disenfranchised. And he was blessed to hold a position of honor that allowed him to build bridges between those who were the haves and those who were the have-nots,” he said. “He was able to stand and be a catalyst for those who needed to know that they had a voice in this community and that they had a seat at the table.”
Lawson’s commitment to justice and equality was palpable throughout his life. With his late wife Audrey Lawson, he nurtured the church community from its humble beginnings of 13 members in 1962 to the thriving congregation of over 14,000 members today.
Cosby reflected on Lawson’s mission to leave the world better than he found it.
“The civil rights anthem that was part of Pastor Lawson’s mantra went a little like this: ‘If I can help somebody as I pass along, if I can cheer somebody with a word or song, if I can show somebody that he or she is traveling wrong, then my living will not be in vain,’” Cosby said. “Today, I’m grateful to announce that the living of Pastor William Alexander Lawson will not be in vain.”
Lawson’s impact extended beyond his immediate family. He left behind three daughters, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and a multitude of family and friends. As the community prepares to bid farewell, his body will lie in state on Thursday, May 23, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The community service of celebration will commence at 6 p.m. on the same day, offering an opportunity for all to pay their respects.
The congregational service of celebration will begin at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 24, at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.
