Street Marker Unveiled to Honor the late Rev. Dr. E. E. Coates, Pastor Emeritus of Wesley AME Church in Houston

Street Marker Unveiled to Honor the late Rev. Dr. E. E. Coates, Pastor Emeritus of Wesley AME Church in Houston

With unanimous approval by the Houston City Council, an honorary street marker bearing the name of the Rev. E. E. Coates was unveiled on May 13, 2024, in a very moving ceremony presented by Wesley and the City of Houston. Wesley’s pastoral team, the Rev. John White, II and the Rev. Maria Mallory White, and Houston’s Mayor John Whitmire greeted the throng of well-wishers gathered to witness this momentous occasion. 

The marker is located at the intersection of Emancipation Avenue and Webster Street in Third Ward, where the historic Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church that the Rev. Coates pastored has stood for more than a century.  The front steps of this picturesque landmark in the shadows of downtown Houston made the most befitting backdrop for the morning ceremony.

The Reverend Dr. Edward Erias Coates, affectionately known only by his two initials, E. E. Coates was an esteemed and beloved figure in the Third Ward community in Houston and the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was recognized as an extraordinary pastor, a fiery, prolific singing preacher, and an influential community activist and civic leader. Assigned to Wesley in 1965 by Bishop O. L. Sherman, the Rev. Coates’ 37-year pastoral leadership was a ministry of exceptional kingdom building where Wesley grew to become the largest AME church in Texas and the Tenth Episcopal District.  

An elder AME statesman and a connectional pastor, the Rev. E. E. Coates proudly served on the Episcopal Committee until his retirement. He distinguished himself in his 14 pastoral charges in Kansas, Wyoming, Missouri, Texas, and the global AME Church. After an impactful ministry spanning nine decades of spiritual guidance and community empowerment, the Rev. Coates passed away in 2018 at 96.

The Reverend Coates’ last surviving child, Lucille Coates, only grandchild, Tyler Coates, and daughter-in-love, Deborah Coates, attended the event.  They were joined by other family members, city officials, community and religious leaders, church members, and friends. 

Pastor White presided over the ceremony, which opened with a powerful prayer by the Rev. Hunt Harris, one of Rev. Coates’ more than 35 sons and daughters in ministry, including the late Right Reverend Sarah Frances Davis, the 126th elected and consecrated Bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire began the tributes by thanking the family for the honor of being a part of the ceremony. ”I’ve grown up in public office knowing who E.E. Coates was. He taught us, He led us. He mentored us.”  We knew who the visionary pioneer the Rev. Coates was,” Mayor Whitmire said.  ”Building Wesley Square, the first affordable housing development in Harris County, and creating the Federal AME (FAME) Credit Union to provide vital banking services for those in Third Ward and underserved communities throughout Houston firmly established his great legacy as a pillar of our society.”  

As a tribute to the life that the Rev. Coates embodied, the renowned Gospel Hall of Fame inductee V. Michael McKay, along with Ms. Treva Jones, delivered a soul-stirring rendition of “If I Can Help Somebody,” drawing lifted hands from the audience and transforming the mood into a church-like atmosphere. 

An inspirational treat for everyone was a moment of reflection from Wesley’s beloved and almost 102-year-old centenarian, Ms. Juanita Williams.  As the oldest Wesley member with 80 years of church membership, Ms. Williams boasted about how the Rev. Coates led the church on a mission for community service, keeping them motivated with his secret weapon. “He knew that all he had to do was to call us precious, and we would do whatever he wanted us to do. He was a good pastor and just a really good man. I am proud and happy that his name will always be on this corner, an honor he really deserves,” Mrs. Williams expressed with heartfelt emotions.

Councilwoman Carolyn Evans Shabazz reminded the crowd of well-wishers that the Rev. Coates was “a monumental figure in our community.  His tenure as pastor of Wesley Chapel was marked by more than just spiritual leadership.  He was a tireless advocate for social justice and dedicated to service. He laid a foundation of compassion and unity that continues to inspire us.” said Shabazz.

While the Rev. Coates was lauded for his significant contributions to the Third Ward Community and Houston, his humbleness and love for humankind were at the core of everything he did. He was a community treasure who loved serving God and serving God’s people. The plaudits of remembrance for the Rev. Coates reverberated throughout the gathering, filling the faces with smiles, laughter, and Amens.

The Coates family expressed their profound gratitude for the accolades and kindness shown in honoring “this remarkable individual,” their father and grandfather, with a street marker. The family acknowledged that “this event reflects the love and respect we hold for the Rev. Coates and serves as a testament to his impact beyond his family circle.”

The ceremony concluded with the crowd, led by Mayor Whitmire and the Coates family, walking just a few steps from the church to the street marker.  The cloudy skies opened up to a ray of sunshine as the marker was unveiled, and onlookers celebrated this historic occasion.  This commemoration is not just about remembering the past; it is about inspiring the future.  Every glance at the street marker shows the symbol of the Rev. Coates’ enduring legacy in front of the Wesley church building.  The structure will be repurposed into the Gospel Haus and Museum.  The museum will be the cornerstone of the future Gospel Square, a mixed-use development featuring affordable housing, a café, and a recording studio. What better place to honor the name of the Rev. E. E. Coates than during this full circle moment.

Wesley African Methodist Episcopal Church, the Rev. Edward Erias Coates, and the Third Ward community in Houston, Texas, will be forever inextricably linked.