Slaves Built and Paid for Their Own Churches - A Revolutionary Idea - Realtor Bill Cherry

Jo and Joan, I'm kind of a celebrity in the Houston-Galveston area since I have written for newspapers for years, done a lot of radio and a serial of TV history pieces. 

As you can imagine, I'm truly a fish out of water here in Dallas.  No one here has ever heard of me, nor do they care if they ever do.  It's not a big deal one way or the other, but it certainly puts a damper on real estate prospecting.

Patty was my last college girlfriend.  I was a graduate student and teaching there.  I was 26.  She was only 19.  We went our separate ways.  Thirty years later, we found each other again and married.  That was absolutely wonderful!

She had always lived in Dallas.  She's a psychotherapist. (The perfect companion for someone like me.)

When we married she moved to Galveston to be with me, but after my mom died ten years later, remaining in Galveston would have been very selfish on my part, so I suggested we sell out and move here to Dallas so that she could be with her friends and family. 

We've been here about two and a half years.  I like it fine, but it has not been easy for me to make new friends.  (Probably my fault.)  I've concluded that people over 50 should stay put if they can.  I did this at 64!

Patty and I, but especially me, have always been very active in our church.  That hasn't transferred here to Dallas for some reason.  And that's where the majority of my friends came from, even as a child and through adulthood.  So it's continues to be quite a challenge.

We have decided to both study in the deaconate program.  For Patty it so she can actually be ordained.  For me, it's just for the education.  We began last Saturday.  Perhaps we'll integrate better as we go through this four year adventure.

But good for you for doing volunteer work.  I'm inclined to think that is one of the major purposes for us being Here.

Thanks for your note, Miss Diane.  I had to become a grown up before I ever became interested in history.  I get a great deal of pleasure learning how people resolved their problems and adversities.

Carl and Miss Gena

Thanks for liking this story about the Reedy Chapel.  I first told this story on a regular TV feature I used to do for a Houston television channel's news. 

It is one of many that show that Galvestonians did not treat the black residents as slaves, but as human beings that happened to be black.  That was, of course, quite extraordinary during those times.

Bill

Miss Liz,

Thanks for the tied third place.  That's a nice honor.  I've tried to post it to the Texas Real Estate Group as you asked.  Hopefully I did it correctly.

Bill

Miss Karen Anne --

I'm glad you liked the story of how the Galveston black churches came into being.  Back in 1858 I was in junior high.  My allowance was a nickel a week.  I don't know how this story about me buying the black forest cake came into being.  Obviously I couldn't have bought it.

It sold for 9 cents to a fellow who had a big boat.  I think his name was Jean Lafitte.

Bill