ALL ABOUT OUR FORMER PASTOR.....

Reverend Byrd Lacey, Jr. was one of 12 children born to Byrd Lacey, Sr. and Elizabeth Swearengin Lacey in Chapel Hill, Texas. He grew up in Chapel Hill, attending and graduating from C. H. Hogan High School. He received his early religious training and was baptized at the Providence Missionary Baptist Church, also located in Chapel Hill, Texas. 

Rev. Lacey later moved to Houston, Texas and received additional religious training at Union Baptist Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a minister in 1958 at the Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church by the late Reverend L. E. Brown and the late Reverend J.S. Smith of Galveston, Texas. He graduated from Union Baptist Theological Seminary in 1961, with a degree in Theology. He received his Doctorate in Divinity Studies from the Inter-Baptist Theological Center in 1981. 

Rev. Lacey pastored the following four (4) churches: McGee Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Houston, Texas (1960 -1965), Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, El Campo, Texas (1965-1971), West Tabernacle Baptist Church, Conroe, Texas (1971-1977), Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Huntsville, Texas (1977-1983) before being called to Greater Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in October 1983.

Rev. Lacey served faithfully as pastor, teacher, counselor, mentor and friend, not just to his church membership, but to the entire Houston community as well. 

During his tenure at Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church, Rev. Lacey received numerous awards and was recognized by several local, state, and national organizations. Some of his most distinguished accomplishments are as follows: 

He was appointed Dean of the South Texas District Missionary Baptist Association under former moderator M. L. Jackson, now under the direction of Moderator Acie Jefferson, where he was responsible for the association's bible instruction.

He was the keynote speaker at the National Baptist Missionary Association of America.

He was awarded the Humanitarian and Leadership Award by the Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church in 1987.

He was recognized as a leader in Christian education by the National Baptist Sunday Church School and Baptist Training Union of the National Baptist Publishing Board in 1988.

He was recognized for community service by the Metro Southeast Houston Chapter of the National Women of Achievement in 1995.

He was honored by the Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc. as one of Houston's outstanding ministers in 2002.

Despite all of these recognized accomplishments, Rev. Lacey was most proud of the countless souls he brought to Christ, which he firmly believed is the mission of every Christian.  Rev. Lacey held this principle to be true: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path. (Proverbs 3: 5-6). 

Rev. Lacey was married to the former Marylyn Fields, and together they had four children: Cheryl Lacey Donovan, Cheryl Chandler, Kim Carter and Dr. Jackie Ward. He also had ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Pastor Lacey retired on May 11, 2024, after 41 years of service. He received his rest from labor to reward on May 25, 2025.