Houston, Texas (KTRK) – The city of Houston, along with the rest of the world, on Thursday mourned the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning British monarch.
In 1991, during her visit, the former mayor of Houston, Cathy Whitmer, gave the Queen a key to the city.
Whitmer told Eyewitness News that it was her most memorable moment during her time in office.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip spent three days in Texas.
RELATED: Britain’s longest-reigning Queen Elizabeth dies at 96
The highlight for many was their trip to the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, built and organized by former slaves.
Jacqueline Bostick, granddaughter of Jack Yates, attended services with the Queen.
“They wanted to see the Gothic building on the second floor, and so they wanted to come in. They asked if we’d do the service, and we were very proud, and of course, they were,” Bostick said. “I am glad that my mother was still alive and had the opportunity to meet her and spend time with her.”
See also: 10 things to know about the life of Queen Elizabeth II
The current pastor, who is married to Bostick’s granddaughter, still feels important.
“Her visit comes on the heels of South Africans released from the apartheid regime,” said Reverend Lou McIlroy, the current pastor.
“So, with all the political turmoil that was going on at the time, we find it important that she chose this historic church for worship,” McIlroy said.
RELATED: The death of Queen Elizabeth II: What do you know about the succession, funeral, coronation and more
“She’s the Queen of England, but there was a natural ability in her that would shock you every time you saw her talking to people,” said Helen Mann, a former deputy consul at the British Consulate. “Real humility and genuine concern for the people she was talking to.”
Two years after the Queen’s trip to Houston, Mann had the opportunity to meet the Queen for the second time.
“I could hear her assistant standing next to her saying, ‘Ma’am, this is the vice-consul from Houston, Texas.’ She looked up and looked at me and said, ‘Oh, I remember,'” Mann recalled, laughing.
“I said something about hoping she’d enjoyed her visit to Texas. Sure, I can’t think of why we haven’t come there before,” she said.
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