Reverend William “Bill” Alexander was not just a Minister. He was a Civil Rights champion—a Community Leader—an Advocate—and a Legend.
On May 14th, this giant of a man departed this Earth, and has left the Greater Houston area with a significant void that can never be filled, as Rev. Lawson passed away at the age of 95.
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church released a statement on the day of his passing, which read:
It is with both inexpressible sorrow and overwhelming gratitude that we announce the passing of our Founding Pastor, Reverend William A. Lawson on May 14, 2024. He has completed his time of service here on earth and is now enjoying eternal rest. In his nearly 96 years, Reverend Lawson has served as husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, as well as preacher, professor, and civil rights leader. But whatever title you may have used to describe him, it has been said many times that Reverend Bill Lawson was “Houston’s Pastor.”
Rev. Lawson was a true Houston icon and civil rights champion, who left an indelible mark on this world that can never be duplicated—just emulated.
Rev. Lawson founded Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in his home in June 1962, along with his wife Audrey. He has been a true pillar in the Greater Houston community for decades.
Rev. Lawson has received countless accolades and recognitions for all of the contributions he made as an advocate for equality and for being one of the most pivotal voices regarding critical social and political issues in the Greater Houston area.
Rev. Lawson was born on June 28, 1928, in St. Louis, Missouri. He was reared by his parents—Walter and Clarisse Lawson—in Kansas City, Kansas. In 1946, Rev. Lawson graduated from Summer High School and matriculated to Tennessee A&I State University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he earned a B.A. degree in sociology in 1950. He later returned to Kansas City, Kansas, and received a Bachelor of Divinity degree and a Master of Theology degree from Central Baptist Theological Seminary in 1955.
It was at Central Baptist Theological Seminary that Rev. Lawson met and eventually married Audrey Lawson on January 30, 1954. He and Audrey decided to move to the city of Houston after graduating from Central Baptist Theological Seminary. Rev. Lawson took on the role as director of the Baptist Student Union and as Professor of Bible at Texas Southern University (TSU), where he served from 1960 to 1970. After serving ten years in that position, he became the director of Upward Bound—a pre-college program for high school students on the TSU campus. While working at TSU, several neighborhood residents encouraged Rev. Lawson and Audrey to plant a church near the TSU campus, which led to the couple founding Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in their home with thirteen members as the foundation. After growing the congregation to over 15,000 members, Rev. Lawson decided to retire as senior pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in August 2004, and served as Pastor Emeritus until his passing.
As an upstart minister in the Greater Houston area, Rev. Lawson also served as one of the primary contributing writers at the Forward Times newspaper, touching on key issues and addressing them with a spiritual and social outlook.
While at TSU, Rev. Lawson also helped build the first Afro-American Studies Program at the University of Houston and taught classes in sociology and on the Black Church. He was heavily involved with the Civil Rights Movement, as he helped orchestrate activities in Houston—whether it was standing with and raising money and bail for fourteen students from TSU who held a sit-in to protest segregation at a Weingarten’s supermarket lunch counter or working to peacefully integrate schools and other institutions.
In 1963, a year after he founded Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, Rev. Lawson was one of the only ministers to invite Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to come to Houston to speak at his church. He also marched with the civil rights leader and allowed him to stay at his home. This was critical, in that Rev. Lawson indicated that almost none of the city’s Black churches and leaders chose to welcome Dr. King after FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover accused him of being a communist.
Rev. Lawson went on to lead the Houston chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference for over three decades. In 1968, he received his honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Howard Payne University and an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Houston in 1993 and an honorary degree from Texas Southern University.
The impact that Rev. Lawson had was far-reaching and news of his passing resonated with people from every level of life across this city and country.
Martin Luther King III: “Rev. William ‘Bill’ Lawson was a drum major for peace, justice, and equity. ‘Houston’s Pastor’ was a friend of my father and helped move the Civil Rights Movement forward. Arndrea King and I are praying for his family as they mourn his passing.”
U.S. Congressman Al Green (TX-09): “My spiritual father, Rev. William Lawson, has transitioned. He was hope to the hopeless, help for the helpless, friend to the friendless - truly an angelic gift from God, who has completed his assignment and returned home to receive his, ‘well done, my good and faithful servant!’”
U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18): “I, like so many Houstonians, am deeply saddened by the passing of Rev. William Lawson — a Houstonian icon and pillar of our community. Rev. Lawson dedicated his life to service. He was the founding pastor of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and a Civil Rights Movement leader who advanced the cause of equality and justice for all. My prayers and sympathies are with Rev. Lawson’s children, his family, and his church family. May he rest in power.”
Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds (District 27): “Rev. Lawson was my Fraternity brother and was a transformative figure in the Civil Rights movement that marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He was the founder of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church and served as Pastor Emeritus. He was an incredible father, devoted husband until the passing of his wife and legendary leader among leaders! He will truly be missed, and his legacy will endure FOREVER! Gone but NEVER forgotten!”
Lewis Goode, owner of Goode Looks Barber Shop, served as Rev. Lawson’s personal barber and reflected on his connection with Rev. Lawson, stating: “In 1980, every Wednesday, I used to get free karate lessons at Wheeler Avenue. Later on, from 1984 to 1986, on Wednesdays, I belonged to a program called Young Life, where a bunch of youngsters from across Houston would come together to discuss issues, pray, sing, and things of that nature. Then in 2011, I started Goode Looks Barber Shop, and Rev. Lawson would come to the barber shop every Wednesday and I would cut his hair. After Rev. Lawson had an injury, I started making house calls and would cut his hair every Wednesday at his home. He would tell me all kinds of remarkable facts and things he has done, along with things that have impacted our lives and his. I looked forward to going to cut his hair every Wednesday, and it blew my mind the things that he had done. Stuff that I never even heard of. Rev. Lawson was a giant and inspired me to be a giant and gave me the passion to help other young people to be a giant like he was.”
Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis: “I am deeply saddened by the passing of my dear friend and a towering figure in our community, the Reverend William A. Lawson. His life’s work as a civil rights icon, educator, and relentless advocate for the underserved has left an indelible mark on Houston and beyond. I am profoundly grateful, personally for his friendship and mentorship and for the transformative impact he had on our community. Reverend Lawson’s legacy is monumental. He was a pioneering force in the Civil Rights movement, courageously hosting the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at his church and supporting the brave Texas Southern University students during the sit-ins that spurred integration in our city. His commitment to justice and equality knew no bounds.”
To honor Rev. Lawson’s monumental contributions, Commissioner Ellis recently had the privilege of naming a park after him and his beloved wife, Audrey.
“The Reverend William and Audrey Lawson Park will serve as a lasting tribute to their shared commitment to uplifting every member of our community,” said Commissioner Ellis. “Reverend Lawson’s spirit will forever resonate in the hearts he touched and the lives he transformed. Though we mourn his loss, we celebrate a legacy that will guide us for generations to come.”
Rev. Lawson has been honored in so many ways across the Greater Houston area.
In 1996, a group of close friends gifted Rev. Lawson with a non-profit organization called the William A. Lawson Institute for Peace & Prosperity (WALIPP). The organization gave him the ability to focus on and bring attention to several key issues and critical needs in the city. Through WALIPP, Rev. Lawson was able to start the WALIPP Preparatory Academy for Boys, which was the first charter school created for 6th through 8th grade boys in the nation. Rev. Lawson also helped build a Seniors Residence facility for independent-living adults, which are fifty units of apartments for seniors on Scott Street in Houston’s Third Ward, providing affordable housing for the elderly. The facility also houses commercial businesses, such as Goode Looks Barber Shop and others. Rev. Lawson also spearheaded several other major socially driven causes through the WALIPP organization.
In 2020, the Rice University Board of Trustees decided to name part of its campus central quadrangle “The Reverend William A. Lawson Grove” in honor of his contributions to the University and to the city of Houston. The grove is a beautiful, shaded area that sits at the heart of the campus, situated between Herring Hall and Brochstein Pavilion. It is flanked by live oak trees and houses the prominent “Mirror” art installation by Jaume Plensa, which was donated by Stephanie and William Sick. That year, Rev. Lawson was also presented with the 2020 Klineberg Award, which recognized his decades of service to Houston.
In 2022, Rev. Lawson’s daughters—Melanie, Cheryl, and Roxanne—accepted a check on behalf of their father, for the establishment of a $100,000 endowed scholarship for the Rev. William D. Lawson Leadership Institute at Texas Southern University. They also accepted an honorary street sign, naming a section along the Tiger Walk as “Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Way,” on his behalf during TSU’s inaugural Black History Month Convocation and tribute luncheon.
Also, in 2022, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke came to Houston to visit Rev. Lawson at his personal home and receive campaign advice and support. When it comes to politics in Texas, especially in Houston, practically every candidate who wants to win, sought to get the endorsem*nt and/or “sit at the feet” of Rev. Lawson.
In 2023, Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis held an inaugural Living Legends Black History Luncheon event at Tom Bass Community Center to honor Rev. Lawson for his contributions to the community.
The list of recognitions could go on forever. Rev. Lawson is also the author of Lawson’s Leaves of Love: Daily Meditations, which was published in 2004.
Rev. Lawson was preceded in death by his devoted wife of over 61 years—Mrs. Audrey Hoffman Lawson—who died at home of natural causes in 2015, at the age of 83.
Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church released a celebration of life schedule for all events that will be held at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, located at 3826 Wheeler Avenue. The schedule is:
- Thursday, May 23 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Rev. Lawson’s body will lie in state
- Thursday, May 23 at 6 p.m. - Community Service of celebration
- Friday, May 24 at 11 a.m. - Congregational Service of celebration
Rev. William ‘Bill’ Alexander Lawson, the Forward Times honors your life and legacy, and thanks you for your tremendous sacrifices and contributions to Houston and to all humanity.
