Sedelia McGuire

reporter@silsbee-bee.com

The Silsbee Bee

SILSBEE – William Jefferson McDonald, better known as WJ McDonald, was a lifelong resident of Silsbee, Texas. He was the only boy in a family with eight girls. Throughout it all, he thoroughly enjoyed and loved his family.

He was a businessman that believed in helping anybody that needed help. He was the owner and operator of McDonald’s Grocery, a small mom and pop grocery store, barber shop, cafe and rooming house. He always had the heart to help others. If someone came and told him that they were hungry, he would make them one of his famous pressed ham and cheese sandwiches for free. If someone needed groceries, he would let them charge their groceries until they were able to pay for them later. That was the kind of person Mr. McDonald was.

After graduating from high school, he attended Texas College and Prairie View A&M University. He left college to serve in the United States Army, where he was awarded the Purple Heart. The Purple Heart represents supreme sacrifice and is one of the most recognized military awards for valor and duty. After returning from the Korean Conflict and after a brief employment with the Santa Fe Railroad, he took over the family business, McDonald Grocery and Package Store. He was a member of First Missionary Baptist Church in Silsbee, where he was church treasurer, Bible School teacher, and a devoted member of other various committees.

Mr. McDonald understood the importance of Education; he would encourage the youth of Silsbee to graduate and go off to college. He demonstrated that through his four children who are proud graduates of Bishop College, Baylor University, Prairie View A&M University and University of Houston. Mr. WJ or just WJ-as many of the neighborhood kids called him, always had a smile and an encouraging word for kindergarten aged kids to high school kids that walked into his store to purchase their candy or jack cookies. Many times, former residents of Silsbee, young and old, would stop by for a hand dipped ice cream cone just to let him know how and what they were or what they were doing with their lives.

Mr. McDonald was also known throughout the city of Silsbee because he was a member of the Silsbee Planning and Zoning Committee for over 25 years, and he served as a Precinct Election Judge for Hardin County Texas, in which Silsbee is located. As well as one of three African American businessmen in the city of Silsbee at that time.

Mr. William, WJ, Jefferson McDonald, is a part of Black History and American History, and we say. “Thank you to your contributions in assisting in making the lives of the residents of Silsbee and beyond better.”