Photos Courtesy of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church Founding Pastor, Reverend William A. Lawson, passed on May 14, 2024. Reverend Lawson, affectionately known as "Houston’s Pastor," dedicated his nearly 96 years to serving his community as a preacher, professor, and civil rights leader. He served for 42 years as senior pastor at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Beyond his church, Reverend Lawson championed desegregation and social justice, leaving a profound impact on the city. We celebrate his legacy and ask for prayers for his family and all who loved him. Reverend Lawson’s body will lie in state on May 23, 2024, with community and congregational services to follow at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church.