A Little Piece of Heaven in a Place Called Pelham — “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Psalm 116:15).
A Little Piece of Heaven in A Place Called Pelham. Memorial Day Weekend in Pelham, Texas
By Black Texans, Inc.
KXAS Story on Pelham, Texas:
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Psalm 116:15)
HISTORIC PELHAM, TEXAS (May 24, 2025) — On Memorial Day weekend, under the open skies and radiant sun, the historic African American community of Pelham, Texas, gathered for a sacred celebration brimming with remembrance, honor, and joyful faith. With hearts uplifted and spirits united, the people of Pelham proclaimed the eternal truth of Psalm 116:15 — that the lives and sacrifices of our faithful veterans are indeed precious in the sight of the Lord.
The day began at Brown’s Chapel A.M.E. Church, a cherished congregation founded in 1905 and named in honor of one of its most faithful elders. The Memorial Day service overflowed with energy, gratitude, and reverence. Over 112 veterans were lovingly acknowledged — their names spoken with care, each life cherished, each story honored, as the church bell tolled softly in sacred remembrance. The sanctuary was alive with heartfelt decorations, powerful testimonies, stirring music, and even joyful door prizes, all celebrating the truth etched deep in every heart: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
The program lifted up the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers, the courageous Tuskegee Airmen, and the heroic 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, featuring their histories, flags, and photos to honor these heavenly soldiers whose courage lives on in both memory and spirit.
After the church service, the Buffalo Soldiers led the community in a solemn, reverent procession to Pelham Cemetery, a sacred resting ground established in 1890 by formerly enslaved African Americans. There, Buffalo Soldier Pioneer Paul Allen and his fellow soldiers rendered the Final Salute to the fallen. Beneath the shade of old trees and under the watchful gaze of heaven, the cemetery holds the resting places of ancestors whose earliest birth dates reach as far back as 1790. Their lives, their service, their faith — all now resting in hallowed ground — bear witness to the promise: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.
Pelham, founded in 1866 by freedmen after emancipation, stands as one of Texas’s oldest African American settlements — a shining beacon of freedom, resilience, and self-determination. It thrived with three churches, schools, farms, and businesses, forming a vibrant, faith-filled community. On this Memorial Day, descendants gathered among the headstones of their forebears, knowing that every name carved in stone echoes not only through family memory but in the eternal heart of God, who holds each life as precious.
We give honor to the twelve pioneer families who laid Pelham’s foundation between 1866 and 1899:
• Wade Westbrook (1866)
• Henry Sneed (1867)
• Rev. Holmes (1890)
• Henry Caruthers (1870)
• Mose Stanford (1873)
• Wilson Walker (1873)
• Dave “Bear Dave” Henry (1881)
• Tom Cook (1890)
• Frank Milos (1895)
• Jake Thomas (1896)
• Jasper Guess (1897)
• Andrew Bell (1899)
Their legacy is alive today, breathing through every generation that stands on their shoulders.
Memorial Day holds special weight in African American history. Black soldiers have served and sacrificed in every American conflict — from the Revolutionary War and the Civil War to the Buffalo Soldiers, the World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and beyond. Even as they faced enemies abroad and injustice at home, they carried the banner of service with dignity, faith, and determination. Indeed, one of the earliest Memorial Day observances was held in 1865 by newly freed African Americans in Charleston, South Carolina, who honored Union soldiers that died for their freedom — declaring in that sacred moment what Psalm 116:15 reminds us: the death of His saints is precious in His sight.
The riderless horse, or caparisoned horse — an honored tradition in military funerals — served as a moving and unforgettable symbol on this day. Draped in ornamental coverings, with boots reversed in the stirrups, the horse followed the procession, representing the soldier’s final ride and their continued service in the life beyond. This ancient, solemn ritual powerfully echoed Psalm 116:15, affirming that the ultimate sacrifice is never forgotten, neither on earth nor in heaven.
After the cemetery memorial, the community came together at the Pelham Community Center, where food, laughter, fellowship, and joyful reunion filled the air. Families and friends raised their voices in praise, offered heartfelt prayers, and gave thanks to God for the treasure of A Piece of Heaven in Pelham — a place where past and present intertwine under God’s watchful eye, where the living honor the dead, and where every faithful life is remembered as precious and eternal.
Together, these Memorial Day events wove a beautiful masterpiece of history, sacrifice, faith, and celebration — reminding all that in Pelham, remembrance is not just a tradition, but a holy act of love. On this blessed day, heaven and earth truly embraced, and God’s light shone brightly upon the community.
Photos by Pastor Kyev Tatum, Fort Worth, Texas.
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