Magic 11th Street

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Magic 11th Street Dedicated to the preservation of 11th Street in Garland, TX

The 2026 Bridge Builder Award presented today at the annual NAACP Garland TX Unit Freedom Fund Brunch honors Louis and K...
09/19/2026

The 2026 Bridge Builder Award presented today at the annual NAACP Garland TX Unit Freedom Fund Brunch honors Louis and Kay Moore for building "bridges between cultures, generations, and chapters of Garland's history". In her remarks announcing the award, NAACP officer Cassandra Lilly Cox said the honorees' more than 50 years of combined journalism experience "have become a powerful commitment to preserving and sharing Garland's often-overlooked history". NAACP president Ricky McNeal presented the award at the 35th annual Freedom Fund Brunch held at the Hyatt Place this morning in Garland. In receiving the award Louis and Kay Moore represented the Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street nonprofit, which has sponsored all the events and causes that were cited in the announcement. Others honored at the event were Dr. Shaunise Alford and Dr. Jessica Pelts honored with the 2026 Entrepreneur Award, Le Juan Richardson with the 2026 Educator Award, and the late B.J. Williams posthumously with the 2026 Community Service Award.

Former Garland Councilmember B.J. Williams' pastor called him a "bridge" who "connected one idea to another, one communi...
09/18/2026

Former Garland Councilmember B.J. Williams' pastor called him a "bridge" who "connected one idea to another, one community to another". Pastor S. Michael Greene described his deacon and church member as a "short-in-stature man with this tall voice" who "knew there were some people whose rights needed to be protected".

Speaker after speaker uttered similar descriptions at Williams' memorial service today at Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church (The Rock) in Richardson, where B.J. had been a member for 36 years. At least eight resolutions in his honor were presented to the family, including one from Mt. Pisgah, that said his "consistent smile" was "more than a greeting; it was a witness to his love for Christ and for people".

"He gave us an example worth remembering," said the Mt. Pisgah resolution, read by member Curtis Jones.

Retired Garland Police Chief Mitch Bates described Williams as "constantly questioning the status quo" and said the former councilmember was"always about others".

Garland Unit NAACP President Ricky McNeal credited Williams with inspiring the unit's motto: "Still work to do". He said B.J. challenged us to make sure we made the "right" difference.

Williams' friend Ray Holmon, with whom he attended Wiley College, said "he worked all his life to eradicate injustice" and always put others first.

Rev. Lawrence J. Hicks, who read from the Old Testament, said Williams had "been a leader ever since I've known him."

Pastor Greene spoke of B.J.'s many titles, including a multi-term city councilmember, former NAACP president, deacon and committee chair, but clarified that "Titles were not the man". "Don't just occupy your seat; carry out your assignment", he said, citing the way B.J. lived his life.

He charged attendees to reflect on the question, "What will you do with what he taught you?" and noted "B.J.'s race may be finished, but the entire race isn't finished."

North Texas Giving Day 2026 has concluded--with much gratitude for all that was done.
09/18/2026

North Texas Giving Day 2026 has concluded--with much gratitude for all that was done.

Today is North Texas Giving Day! Please keep the good work going and the stories being told. Remember Friends of Garland...
09/17/2026

Today is North Texas Giving Day! Please keep the good work going and the stories being told. Remember Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street nonprofit when you make your donation today. Go to this link: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/5296
Communities Foundation of Texas North Texas Giving Day

Please remember the nonprofit Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street on North Texas Giving Day 2026. Giving is ...
09/15/2026

Please remember the nonprofit Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street on North Texas Giving Day 2026. Giving is under way now for the September 17 event. Here's the link to give: https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization/5296 North Texas Giving Day Communities Foundation of Texas

Services for Garland City Councilmember-emeritus B.J. Williams are set for 11 a.m. Friday, September 18, at Mt. Pisgah M...
09/10/2026

Services for Garland City Councilmember-emeritus B.J. Williams are set for 11 a.m. Friday, September 18, at Mt. Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, 1010 South Sherman Street, Richardson. Visitation is the night before, on Thursday, September 17, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Chamberland Funeral Home, 333 West Avenue D, Garland. B.J., a faithful supporter of Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street, passed away on September 6. He is second from left in this 2015 photo of the unveiling ceremony for the Texas Historical Marker commemorating the Travis College Hill Residential Historic District.

Help the good stories continue to be told! Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street is a grassroots historic pres...
09/08/2026

Help the good stories continue to be told! Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street is a grassroots historic preservation nonprofit dedicated to researching, preserving, and sharing the un- and under-told stories of Garland's past. Please remember Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street on North Texas Giving Day. Early giving is under way and continues through September 17. Communities Foundation of Texas

COUNCILMEMBER-EMERITUS B.J. WILLIAMS, WHO PASSED THIS WEEKEND, WAS 11TH-STREET PROJECT SUPPORTER FROM EARLIEST DAYSFrien...
09/07/2026

COUNCILMEMBER-EMERITUS B.J. WILLIAMS, WHO PASSED THIS WEEKEND, WAS 11TH-STREET PROJECT SUPPORTER FROM EARLIEST DAYS

Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street is profoundly indebted to the late Councilmember-emeritus B.J. Williams for his unwavering support of the 11th-street project from earliest days. From out-of-the-chute efforts to save the historic Pace House and clean up the neighborhood from neglect to more recent causes of telling stories of underrepresented groups, B.J. was an always-vocal and encouraging champion.

B.J.'s sudden passing over the weekend was announced yesterday, and tributes rightfully began pouring in from all corners of the city. Few entities could have been personally more impacted than this nonprofit by B.J.'s well-placed and timely words that advanced the cause.

More than a decade ago, when 11th-Street efforts began to snare cooperation from the city, surrounding churches, and schools to remediate the neighborhood, B.J. insisted that a police representative appear before city council to give perspective.

He attended the 2017 focus/group luncheon in which local Black leaders testified about Garland sites/individuals that they believed needed more widespread attention.

His faithful presence at events, such as the installation of the Texas Historical Marker honoring the Manuel and Maria Valle Family (pictured here) spoke volumes. In the 2024 production of "The Flats" musical drama, sponsored by Friends of Garland's Historic Magic 11th Street, B.J. was one of the outstanding Garland citizens that walked across the stage during a recognition in the play's concluding scene.

B.J. would always follow up with a supportive email, offering affirming words to spur on future endeavors.

Memorial service arrangements for B.J. are pending at this time but will be reported on this page when available.

Address

313 S 11th Street
Garland, TX
75040

Telephone

(214) 886-1009

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