Bill Lawson dies: Funeral for Houston civil rights icon May 23 at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Funeral services for the late Rev. William A. Lawson, a civil rights icon also known as the “Pastor of Houston” and founder of Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, are scheduled to begin next week.

Visitation will be held May 23 at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, followed by an evening community service.

The final celebration of the Reverend’s life will take place on May 24 at 11 a.m.

Rev. Lawson died Tuesday morning at the age of 95.

He was the father of four children, including ABC13’s Melanie Lawson, but generations of Houstonians knew him as a preacher and pioneer for equality.

The beloved pastor worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement, then founded Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church with his wife Audrey.

The couple was married for 61 years before Audrey’s death in 2015.

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