Journey back to 1933. That’s when the Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church was organized. It began with the late Rev. James Dockins Sr. He was the driving force behind its establishment.
The first sanctuary wasn’t here. It was originally constructed in Minoch, Texas. Sadly fire destroyed it. Undeterred a second building rose on Hollins Lane. Around 1970 Brother Justice, Deacon Willie Leveston and his wife Pleasant built it. Deacon John Elmore, Deacon J.C. Moaning and Elder Mills also helped. Many others contributed to its construction. Once a framed building it was bricked under the leadership of Pastor Will J. Jones.
Who were the founders of Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church? Besides Pastor James Dockins Sr. there was Sister Rhodessa Amerson-Green from Galveston. Also Sister Kindness Sommons-Hadnot from Cleveland Texas was one of the founders. Sister Cassie Jackson, Sister Clydie Lee Drew-McDonald from Dallas and Sister Edna Pierson were also founders. Sister Flossie Anderson-Pierson from Tamina, Sister Inell Simmons-Thomas from Tamina and Sister Mary McWortham from Tamina completed the list.
In those days Minox was a community. We would call such communities sub-divisions today. Their church building was near the Missouri Pacific railroad tracks. One day fire from the railroad tracks destroyed the church in Minox.
Rev. Dockins loved to conduct revivals. After the church in Minox burned down he and his members came to Tamina Tabernacle Baptist Church. They wanted to hold a revival service there. The pastor of Tamina Tabernacle did not agree. Rev. Dockins Sr. then built a brush harbor. They conducted meetings under this harbor when the weather was fair. When it rained they went into a schoolhouse that was nearby.
Seven people joined this church in Minoch. They didn’t want to walk to Minox for every service. So they decided to build a church here in Tamina. It became The Lone Star Baptist Church. The journey wasn’t always easy. But through God’s help Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church grew. It transformed from a brush harbor into the brick building we see today.
The Pastors of Lone Star include Pastor James Dockins Sr. followed by Pastor Dickson and Pastor Booker. Then Pastor Will J. Jones served for 53 years. Now Pastor S. W. Dotson Jr. has been serving since 1999.
Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church along with its larger neighborhood formed a largely African-American enclave. It sat just across the Trinity River from Downtown Dallas. The neighborhood was known as Muncie or “the neighborhood”. West Main Street was known to residents as “the street”.
Lone Star Missionary Baptist Church is also the site of a public art program. It is sponsored by the Nasher Sculpture Center since 2022. Community members of West Main Street, Lone Star MBC and West Dallas celebrated the church’s final year in one location after 85 years. That’s a testament to its enduring legacy.