By Aswad Walker
During Day One of the two-day celebration of life for Houston icon Reverend William A. Lawson, Dr. Warren E. Williams read a scripture that summarized Lawson’s ministerial life. The scripture, Luke 4:18-19, is described by theologians as Jesus’s most direct proclamation of what his ministry was all about: “To preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.”
“Indeed, Pastor William A. Lawson walked out, yes lived out, loved out the words just read to the Nth degree, with dignity, honor, integrity and supreme trust in God’s provision and protection for his divine calling,” added Williams, a legendary biology professor at Texas Southern University.
Along with the impressive litany of adjectives that describe Lawson, who founded Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church in 1962, he was a connector, a trait that shown bright during the Thursday, May 23 service by the wide array of attendees representing every facet of life imaginable.
Members of Houston’s progressive, activist community say the African name Kamau perfectly describes Lawson, as the name literally means “quiet warrior.”
But there weren’t many quiet moments during Thursday’s service, and Wheeler’s pastor, Dr. Marcus Cosby instructed all who had gathered to celebrate Lawson’s life in a way befitting his impact upon their lives.
“Pastor Lawson chose him [Bishop James Dixon] to give leadership to this first experience of celebration,” said Cosby during his opening remarks. “Over the years, Pastor Lawson and Bishop Dixon have forged a friendship and brotherhood that has allowed them to do great work in this community.”
“We have come to celebrate the life of our son, God’s servant; a father, a pastor, a prophet, a leader, a teacher, a friend, a beloved angelic personality in our midst,” said Dixon, who then gave attendees a behind-the-scenes look at how Lawson’s services were put together – by Lawson.
“This journey with Pastor Lawson to this moment has been about a three-year journey,” shared Dixon, pastor of Community of Faith Church and president of NAACP Houston Branch. “Along with the family, Pastor Lawson started planning this three years ago. He was very detailed and meticulous about what he wanted and did not.”
Community leaders Martin Cominsky (Interfaith Ministries) and Eileen Morris (Ensemble Theater) shared remarks, as did two of the three daughters of the late Rabbi Samuel Karff, who along with Lawson and the late Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza, made up a multi-faith leadership group affectionately known as “The Three Amigos.”
“I volunteered and worked at the Ensemble Theater, and Mrs. Audrey Lawson came by one day to offer her services to the theater and to our founder George Hawkins,” shared Morris, the Ensemble’s artistic director. “We were elated to have a prominent community member willing to share with us, a new theater community. In those early days, and so many of you all can understand this, it definitely took a village. And Audrey H. Lawson, as a volunteer, came with Rev. Lawson and the four Lawson children, and then later the grandchildren.”
Morris then shared her fondest memory of Lawson: “that he hand-drew and painted graphics for the outdoor marquee for each play.”
“Because of his tremendously busy schedule, he would arrive at the theater around midnight after a day of pastoring. He and Mrs. Lawson would come to the theater and they would gather us volunteers. He would draw on a piece of wood and then ask us to paint in a very specific area the colors that he had designated for the piece. Now, around 4 a.m. or so, it was left for it to dry. This distinguished piece of art would be displayed in the marquee on Main St. for the world to see and experience, not only the play, but the artistic genius of Rev. Lawson – preacher by day and visual artist by night,” she stated.
Powerful musical selections dominated the evening, creating a spirit-filled, jubilant celebration reflecting the spirit of Lawson.
Multiple civil rights activists were on program, as well, to honor the work Lawson dedicated so much of his life to. These included Deloyd Parker (SHAPE Community Center), Howard Jefferson (former NAACP president), David Leebron (president emeritus, Rice University), Judge Kenneth Hoyt and Attorney Gene Locke.
Yolanda Smith, executive director of NAACP Houston, shared remarks in place of Mary Ramos of William A. Lawson Institute for Peace and Prosperity (WALIPP) and LULAC.
Smith, a WALIPP board member, gave remarks that were brief, but cut to the chase and described the very essence of Lawson and his legacy: “Rev. Lawson said God placed us on this earth to protect the powerless from the powerful.”
A veritable who’s who of Houston religionists also offered tributes to Lawson, including Dr. Timothy W. Sloan (pastor, The Luke Church), Dr. Jacques Denkins (pastor, Blessed Hope Baptist Church), Dr. Alexander E.M. Johnson (executive pastor, Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church), Dr. Rudy Rasmus (retired pastor, St. John’s United Methodist Church), Dr. Cleopatrick Lacy (pastor, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, Griffin, GA) and Dr. Joe Samuel Ratliff (pastor, Brentwood Baptist Church).
Dixon closed out the day one proceeding with a rousing tribute of his own to his friend.
Day two of the celebration of Lawson’s life, taking place this evening, Friday, May 24, is described a Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church event, led by worship marshals Rev. Janella Y. Pyles and Dr. Jacques D. Denkins. Cosby will provide the eulogy.