On February 6, Dallas renamed a part of Kirnwood Drive near the Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Oak Cliff after the late Dr. Karry D. Wesley, the founding pastor of the church.
Wesley, who led Antioch for 33 years and also served as a community leader, died in 2019.
Dallas City Councilman Tennell Atkins said Dr. Wesley did a lot for the community, and the renaming of the street will preserve his memory and legacy.
“It’s great to have equity in southern Dallas. It’s great to have someone like Dr. Wesley with all the things he did, fighting [for] the pay day laws, economic development opportunities, and just helping the city of Dallas as a whole,” said Atkins.
He spent his life trying to better southern Dallas.
Hundreds of people congregated at the church to celebrate the name change.
The street will be Dr. KD Wesley Way, stretching from South Hampton Road to Indian Ridge Trail.
His son, Chris Wesley, the senior pastor at the church, appreciates everyone who contributed to changing the name. He remembers his father as a devoted community member, husband, and good dad.
“I stand today not simply as a successor but as a son. I’m not going to be pastoral in this moment because I stand to honor my father. Y’all knew him as ‘Pastor.’ My brothers and I knew ‘Dad,’ and for that reason he is most worthy of what we’re about to do,” he said.
Dr. Wesley, who received his degree at Phoenix Seminary in Arizona, was the first Black doctoral candidate at the school.
Joel Leach, chairman of the church’s board, added that the renaming came at a great time. “It’s Black History Month, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. He’s a legend, and he is Black history.”
The chairman called Wesley a pillar of Dallas’ Black community.
