This month, in which we celebrate Juneteenth and recognize African American achievement and resilience, we spotlight Khalilah Bilal, a remarkable resident of Morningside Ministries. Khalilah, a disabled veteran, has been a cherished member of the Morningside community for almost eight years. She first called The Cottages at The Meadows home before moving to The Atrium building on the same campus. Before retiring to Morningside, Khalilah lived in the Woodlawn neighborhood in San Antonio for 30 years.
Born in the Bronx and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Khalilah joined the Army as a young woman and was sent overseas after completing her basic training in Alabama and being stationed first at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. She held a long, notable career in the US military and government. Her educational path took her to Tuskegee University in Alabama (formerly Tuskegee Normal), where she pursued beekeeping under the mentorship of an instructor who had studied under George Washington Carver, the renowned African-American scientist and inventor. Khalilah played a key role in restoring Carver’s apiary during her time at Tuskegee and maintained her own apiary while living in Alabama, sustaining a passion for beekeeping for over 20 years.
Khalilah’s adventurous spirit led her to live in Puerto Rico for about eight years, where she initially traveled with a friend and decided to stay, charmed by the friendly people and the environment. She later received a scholarship from the US government to continue her education and chose San Antonio, Texas, as her destination for its weather and laid-back atmosphere, though she notes the climate has changed significantly since then.
Her decision to move to The Cottages at Morningside was influenced by her close friend, Anna Lowry, whose husband is a minister at Laurel Heights Methodist Church. Anna’s recommendation, combined with the presence of other church members at Morningside, made it an appealing choice. Despite initial concerns about affordability, Khalilah discovered she could comfortably manage in retirement and appreciated the privacy afforded by The Cottages. However, her move to The Atrium at The Meadows has allowed her to enjoy more social interaction.
At Morningside at The Meadows, she is known as the resident gardener, as gardening became another passion she cultivated after moving to Texas. She describes gardening as her therapy, noting its calming effect on anxiety without the need for medication. She credits the garden at Morningside at The Meadows with saving her life. When she arrived, she initially relied on a walker, but the physical activity and outdoor engagement in the garden helped improve her fitness and manage her cancer symptoms. Among her favorite crops to grow are okra, sunflowers, kale, lambsquarters, Swiss chard, parsley, collard greens, mustard greens, and lemon cucumbers.
She particularly likes to pick the lemon cucumbers and bring them to the Oasis, where she takes classes. Oasis members have returned the favor by pickling them and bringing her back a jar of pickled lemon cucumbers which she says are a delicious treat!
In addition to her military service, beekeeping, and gardening pursuits, Khalilah is also a talented poet and writer. Her poem, “It Takes a Garden to Raise a Community,” is featured in the Homestead Guru writer’s collective website, and her article, “When the Teacher is Ready, the Student Will Appear,” reflects on her transformative time at Tuskegee and her introduction to beekeeping.
Her presence at Morningside has also had a broader impact. She recalls a well-meaning resident once asking her, with Khalilah’s permission for her question, “What are you doing here with all these white folks?” Khalilah responded by saying she decided to move because her friend Anna Lowry said it was a Christian environment, and she felt in a Christian environment she would be welcomed. Khalilah feels her presence has helped change perceptions about people of color and fostered a more inclusive community reflective of Christian values, as Anna had described. Khalilah Bilal’s life is a testament to resilience, service, and the healing power of nature and community. She continues to inspire those around her with her rich history, wisdom, and passion for gardening.
