A historical marker is expected to be placed at the site of the former Freeman Chapel Baptist Church as a part of the upcoming Freeman Chapel Homecoming celebration. The celebration – set for 11 a.m. Saturday, July 8 -- will honor the 134 years of the Freeman Chapel community. 

The event is being organized by the Empowerment Community Development Corporation of Tyler. In addition to unveiling the historical marker, the ceremony is expected to feature a devotional, a history of the church, musical entertainment and a keynote speaker. Burgers and dogs will be provided and plenty of activities for kids are planned. 

The homecoming celebration is part of a larger project to construct a Lee L. Freeman Memorial Site on the property of the former church. A large pavilion is being planned that would be available for use by local families.  

The locally-produced historical marker will state: 

“Freeman Chapel Baptist Church was organized in July 1889 by L.L. Freeman, Perue Griggs, Anna Freeman, Katherine White and Mary Griggs. The pastor was Rev. Andy Griffin.

“The Freeman Chapel Church started under a brush arbor – an arbor made of brushwood. Later, in 1956 a church building was constructed north of Mineola on the Martin Bridge Road at 1551 FM 1254.

In 1911, Lee L. Freeman (July 12, 1884-August 21, 1924) donated this property for a church, cemetery, and a small schoolhouse. The name Freeman derives from a FREE MAN who was once enslaved. His name was Lee Freeman. The church, cemetery and community were named the Freeman Community in honor of Lee. L. Freeman. Freedom colonies are historically significant communities that were settled by formerly-enslaved people during the reconstruction and Jim Crow eras in Texas following emancipation. From 1865-1930, African-Americans accumulated land and founded 557 historic black settlements.

“These freedom colonies were intentional communities created largely in response to political and economic repression by mainstream white society. Freedom colonies provided safe spaces where black Texans could better avoid the perils of debt bondage, sharecropping, and racialized violence from white communities by living largely self-sustaining and independent lives on their own property.

“Since their founding, however, factors like gentrification, cultural erasure, natural disasters, resource extraction, population loss, land dispossession and urban renewal have all contributed to their decline. Hundreds of settlements’ statuses and locations are currently unknown. Freedom colony descendants’ lack of access to technical assistance, ecological and economic vulnerability, and invisibility in public records have quickened the disappearance of these historic Texas communities.

“The church closed its doors in 2020. In 2021 the surviving members -- Deacon Clyde Hervey and Deaconess Doris Hervey, the great-granddaughter of Lee L. freeman – donated the church property to the Empowerment Community Development Corporation, Tyler, Texas, for development of a Lee L. Freeman Memorial Park. A pavilion will host church, family gatherings, social events, and relaxing evening and other outdoor activities for the local and surrounding communities for years to come.”    

People interested in contributing to the celebration may contact Stanley Cofer, president, Empowerment Community Development Corporation, at 903-372-5900 or Empowerment@EmpowermentCDC.org.