HUMBLE, Texas — Leaders in the historic Bordersville community organized an emergency meeting to help homeowners at risk of losing their properties.
At Seeds of Praise Ministry, families told stories of how their property had been or was being sold without their knowledge.
A determined Shirley Crew stood at the podium and gave an impassioned speech having gained strength from a community who rushed to her help in the past few weeks.
Monday, Crew was told she would be evicted from her home on FM 1960. Thanks to efforts from community activists, elected officials and even historians, the eviction was placed on hold until it could once again go before a judge.
“I’m going to fight. I might lose, but I’m going to fight,” said Crew.
The room erupted in applause as Crew described what she was fighting for. Her family has lived on the same property for generations and she’s never had a reason to move. That was until she was told someone may have bought her property in auction.
Otis Burkes is Crew’s neighbor and says the same happened to him almost 20 years ago. He says a man approached him and said he now owned at least three acres of the property.
“I said you ain’t going to buy nothing, cause I ain’t selling it to you,” said Burkes.
The very next day, the same man returned, but this time with officers ready to take any necessary action. Burkes says he gave up, knowing he still had the rights to the remaining lots on the property and wouldn’t want to put that in jeopardy.
The focus here is on what can be saved. For every home still standing, it’s a memory of Bordersville people want to preserve.