District F: Juneteenth Spotlight, Houston COVID-19 Cases on the Rise, Alief Community Center Retrospective Video

On December 29, 1869, being a freed man, David McGee’s dream of owning land came true.  Looking through the Deed that records the sale of approximately 370.5 acres of land from John Perry, “a citizen of Harris County” to David McGee, “a freedman”, we can see history in the making.  From the above mentioned acreage was to come the original site of McGee Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.  The beginning of this property was the beginning of what was known as the McGee Settlement.  The original property purchased according to the Deed to David McGee and in current configuration consists of land bound by Eldridge Parkway to the east, Memorial Drive to the north, Richmond to the south, and extending to the property line of the golf course driving range to the west.

The year was 1876, and residents of McGee Settlement began meeting in one another’s homes for worship services.  The founders included the families of Bro. J. H. Grady, Bro. Dock Williams, Bro. L. McGee, and Sis. Fannie Johnson.  In 1912, due to the growing attendance, they found it necessary to build a church edifice on the “Prairie off Goar Road” (now known as Briar Forest).  Rev. P. A. McGee served as the first Pastor.  According to members of McGee Chapel, the original church building was located in this area of Briar Forest (once known as Goar Road) near Eldridge Parkway.

With no roads or moving equipment at their disposal, the church faced the challenge of moving the building several miles away.  Where there’s a will, there’s a way!  They wisely engaged Ezekiel Gibbs, who agreed to supervise the move free of charge.  The process basically involved placing the church onto two logs to form a skid which was then hitched to a team of mules.  Chains were then secured around the church building where it was pulled onto roller logs.  The trip from Goar Road (Briar Forest) and Eldridge took several days to complete, ending at the current Highway 6 location on Sunday morning.

In 1971, McGee Chapel Members were on a mission to find a new shepherd to lead His sheep.  The members were led to Rev. Walter Kyle Berry, Sr., who after much prayer, accepted the charge to feed His Father’s sheep.

God has continued to bless McGee Chapel through Pastor Berry as he permitted God to “order his steps”.  Our prayer is that God will continue to shower His blessings on the McGee Chapel Family of Faith.

When we as Christians are inspired by God to recognize the church as being “The Body of Jesus Christ”, God’s loving gift to the world then, and only then, are we led to unite our forces and build for Him a House of Worship.  He tells us to forsake not the assembling of ourselves together.

We are sure that it was from these words of inspiration, in the year 1865, that a group of newly freed slaves, Christian pioneer citizens migrated from North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana to form Piney Point Community in West Houston. Piney Point Community is defined by the streets of Westheimer, Jeanetta, Dunvale, and Westpark.  The Pioneers took a step closer to God, and made a property purchase of the 8000 block of Westheimer (currently 9100 block of Westheimer & Jeanetta Road).  The property was purchased from Ms. Willie Canfield, for $1.50 per acre.

The name Pilgrim Rest was submitted by Rev. Max Austin, Sr. and adopted by the church.  The first minister to be called as pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church was Rev. Max Austin, Sr. (1865-1870).  Rev. J. Blackstock (1870-1900) succeeded Rev. Austin as pastor of the church.  Rev. Blackstock pastored the church for approximately 30 years.  It was under his leadership, because of transportation inconveniences, the church was moved to the corner of Westheimer and Jeanetta, leaving the remaining property in its entirety for memorial space.

By 1965, the Missionary Society of Pilgrim Rest was well established and active.  In the late sixties, Pastor George Wilkins (1955-2000) officially added “Missionary” to the name, making it “Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church”.

In May 2002, newly elected Pastor James Blake aggressively inquired about all church properties and developed dialog with boarding property owners.  As the vision unfolds, God commissioned Rev. Blake to “expand the boundaries” in 2004.  This act of faith now is the result of 15 properties of ownership (2004-2015).

With much prayer and fasting from the Pilgrims, God allowed Pilgrim Rest to expand her boundaries as the “best fit” for the property known as 9101 Richmond Avenue, Pilgrim Rest Annex Building and North Campus.

The “original” Piney Point community encompassed an area bounded by Buffalo Bayou on the north, an unnamed road that is now Harwin on the south, Dunvale on the east, and about Osage on the west.  In the mid 1860s, the area was settled by former slaves and named Piney Point by those early settlers because of the way the pine trees appeared to come to a point in the distance.  Farming was the livelihood of residents.  A church (Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church) and a school (Piney Point Elementary) were created as more settlers came to the area.

Acreage was purchased by developers to create subdivisions within the footprint.  Some of these residential areas were named Blossom Heights, Harlem Heights, Ullrich, Piney Point, and Carver Crest–the remaining single-family subdivision of approximately 100 lots.

Piney Point’s boundary has changed over the years to Clarkcrest on the north, Westpark on the south, Buttercup on the east, and Jeanetta/Blanco on the west.  Even with the changes that have occurred over the years, the community is “Piney Point Proud and Strong”.

Thank you to the Shadowlake HOA board and several outstanding residents who coordinated mask deliveries to the 866 homes in the Shadowlake subdivision!

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