DIVINE CONNECTIONS. DIVINE DIRECTIONS. DIVINE PROTECTIONS. Ms. Debra D. Christian — The Mother of the Modern-Day Silver Rights Movement in Texas. Faith. Family. Freedom. Future.

DIVINE CONNECTIONS. DIVINE DIRECTIONS. DIVINE PROTECTIONS. Ms. Debra D. Christian — The Mother of the Modern-Day Silver Rights Movement in Texas. Faith. Family. Freedom. Future. Link: https://dallasexpress.com/state/east-texas-veterans-cemetery-announced-to-honor-generations-of-service/

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” — Galatians 5:13 (KJV)

By Black Texans Editorial Team

Photos courtesy of the Christian Family Archives and Black Texans, Inc.

Ms. Debra D. Christian — The Mother of the Modern-Day Silver Rights Movement in Texas

Debra D. Christian stands as a powerful force for faith, freedom, and economic empowerment. A proud descendant of former Texas State Representative Gideon Christian, who served in the 19th Texas Legislature representing House District 11 (January 13, 1885 – January 11, 1887), she continues her family’s legacy of leadership and service.

Through her vision and dedication, Ms. Christian carries forward the torch of justice and opportunity, shaping the Modern-Day Silver Rights Movement in Texas with grace, courage, and an unshakable belief in God’s promise for His people. Link: https://lrl.texas.gov/legeleaders/members/memberDisplay.cfm?memberID=4103#bio

TYLER, TEXAS — On a golden November weekend in East Texas, a sacred moment in Texas history unfolded — not only for the veterans whose resting places were being revived, but for a woman whose faith, foresight, and family legacy turned soil into salvation.

Her name is Ms. Debra D. Christian — heiress to the Christian Family Trust, founder of the Christian Resource Center for Unsheltered Veterans, president of the Smith County Landowners Association, and, most fittingly, the Mother of the Modern-Day Silver Rights Movement in Texas.

For Ms. Christian, faith and land are inseparable.

“Faith without works is dead,” she often says, quoting James 2:26 with the conviction of a woman who has tilled both ground and grace for decades.

Her story is one of vision and victory — rooted in generations of Christian Family landownership and cultivated by a divine sense of duty to God, veterans, and community.

TURNING A DREAM INTO DESTINY

That divine duty became tangible on November 10, 2025, when Harrison County Judge Chad Sims announced that the East Texas State Veterans Cemetery — a $16 million, 64-acre project approved by the National Cemetery Administration — would be built on land donated by the Christian Family.

The announcement marked a milestone in Texas history: East Texas’ first State Veterans Cemetery, ranked 16th among federal projects nationwide.

“Today, we turn a dream into destiny,” Judge Sims declared, acknowledging that Ms. Christian’s gift was not merely a donation — it was a declaration of faith and freedom.

“This sacred ground, generously donated by the Christian Family, will honor our heroes and serve as a foundation for generations to come.”

The site, nestled near I-20 and FM 968 in Harrison County, will soon become hallowed ground for veterans and their families — a living monument to service, sacrifice, and the steadfast belief that those who fought for freedom deserve to rest in dignity.

A LEGACY ROOTED IN FAITH, FAMILY, AND FREEDOM

The Christian Family’s influence spans Smith, Gregg, and Harrison Counties, where their faith-fueled endeavors have uplifted communities for decades. From supporting Black farmers and landowners through the Smith County Landowners Association to helping veterans reintegrate into civilian life through the Christian Resource Center for Unsheltered Veterans, Ms. Christian’s leadership is marked by humility, holiness, and hard work.

Founded in Tyler and affectionately known as the Buffalo Soldiers Building, the Christian Resource Center serves as a sanctuary for veterans seeking restoration. It offers more than assistance — it offers belonging.

“Remembering our veterans is not enough,” Ms. Christian says. “We must provide them with tools, opportunities, and love.”

Her leadership in land stewardship and veteran advocacy connects seamlessly with her role as President of the Smith County Landowners Association, one of the oldest African American landowner organizations in Texas.

This year’s 46th Annual Conference, held in the “Rose Capital of America” — Tyler, Texas — was both a reflection of the past and a vision for the future.

In her keynote address, Ms. Christian reminded attendees of the Association’s historic mission: to help African American farmers manage taxes, deeds, and land payments during the Jim Crow era.

“We have grown and adapted to the changing times,” she said. “Today, we stand at the intersection of heritage and high-tech — embracing artificial intelligence, blockchain, and data-driven agriculture to protect what our ancestors fought to own.”

THE SILVER RIGHTS MOVEMENT: FAITH IN ACTION

While civil rights sought equality, Ms. Christian’s Silver Rights Movement seeks equity — economic empowerment rooted in faith, stewardship, and land ownership.

Her philosophy continues the unfinished agenda of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., transferring moral freedom into material freedom for the next generation.

To her, “silver rights” mean more than wealth; they mean wisdom, work, and worship — the ability to own, manage, and multiply what God has entrusted.

“True freedom,” she teaches, “is not just the right to vote — it’s the right to build, to grow, and to pass it on.”

It is here that her guiding scripture comes alive:

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” — Galatians 5:13 (KJV)

That scripture, lived through her leadership, defines Ms. Christian’s work — freedom through faith, expressed in service to others.

A WOMAN OF WORTH, A LEGACY OF LOVE

Ms. Christian’s quiet strength and spiritual conviction have inspired partnerships that bridge counties and cultures. Her collaboration with Pastor K.P. Tatum, Sr., Senior Pastor of New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth and Publisher of Black Texans, Inc., is one of divine alignment.

Together, their initiatives — from cemetery restoration to workforce development — reflect what Pastor Tatum calls “Divine Connections, Divine Directions, and Divine Protections.”

“We are witnessing history being healed by faith,” Pastor Tatum said. “Ms. Christian’s land gift isn’t just a donation — it’s a sermon in the soil.”

That same divine connection was beautifully displayed during the “Souls Made of Gold” weekend — a statewide celebration honoring Buffalo Soldiers, Tuskegee Airmen, and the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. The event rekindled Texas’ collective memory and reawakened the spiritual bond between faith and service.

It reminded everyone that when faith and family come together, miracles still happen on Texas soil.

A ROSE THAT STILL BLOOMS

As Tyler continues to honor its name as the Rose Capital of the World, Ms. Debra D. Christian stands as one of its most radiant blooms — a woman whose grace and grit have helped East Texas flourish.

Her gift of 64 acres for a State Veterans Cemetery is more than a gesture of gratitude; it is a generational seed — sown in sacrifice, watered by faith, and destined to bloom for eternity.

In her own words:

“This land was given to us by God, and it must be used for God’s glory. Every acre tells a story — of sacrifice, of service, of salvation.”

Through faith, family, and foresight, Ms. Christian has become more than a matriarch — she has become a movement. Her life’s work ensures that when history looks back on Texas’ 21st-century transformation, it will see her fingerprints — gently pressed in the soil of salvation.

HONOR ROLL OF LEGACY

DEBRA D. CHRISTIAN

• Heiress to the Christian Family Trust

• Founder, Christian Resource Center for Unsheltered Veterans

• President, Smith County Landowners Association

• Donor, 64 Acres for the East Texas State Veterans Cemetery

• The Mother of the Modern-Day Silver Rights Movement in Texas

Publisher’s Note

“Black Texans are proud to celebrate Ms. Debra D. Christian — a true daughter of divine destiny. Her legacy embodies what we call the Texas Trinity: Faith, Family, and Freedom. May her example inspire us all to keep planting seeds that our children’s children will harvest.”

— Pastor Kyev P. Tatum, Sr., Publisher, Black Texans, Inc.