For decades, Sarah-Ann Shaw walked past the Old South Church on Boylston Street, but she never noticed the words carved in stone above the entryway: “Behold I have set before thee an open door.’’

As Boston’s first African-American female TV reporter, the Roxbury native was busy opening doors of her own. But Sunday, Shaw finally took note of the quotation as she walked through the church’s historic doors.

“Opening a door isn’t always easy,’’ she told the congregation as she accepted an honor for paving the way for journalists of color in an industry dominated by whites and men. “Sometimes you feel stuck, sometimes you’re so tired you put off the task, and sometimes you say, ‘I can’t continue to fight, I can’t continue to do the same thing over and over because nothing changes.’ ’’

Shaw spoke of the value of perseverance as she accepted the church’s Open Door Award recognizing her three decades of telling the stories of minority communities in Massachusetts. She retired in 2000 as a reporter with WBZ-TV (Channel 4).

During a ceremony Sunday, church moderator Deb Washington described Shaw as a pioneer and an inspiration.

“We celebrate your boldness,’’ Washington said. “We thank you for your sacrifices and the story you tell by the life you lived.’’

Prior award recipients include former governor Deval Patrick; Larry Kessler, founding director of AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts; and the Rev. Frank Schaefer, who faced criticism from the United Methodist Church in 2013 after he officiated at his son’s same-sex marriage.

The presentation coincided with Phillis Wheatley Sunday, an annual celebration of the prominent congregant who was the first published African-American poet. Wheatley, who opened doors for slaves and people of color through her writing, joined Old South Church in 1771.

“Phillis Wheatley used the medium of her day — pen and parchment — to great effect. Sarah-Ann Shaw used the medium of her day — television — to equally great effect,’’ said Nancy S. Taylor, senior minister of the Old South Church in Boston.

“We have with us today a living legend who used her voice to tell the stories . . . of the lives of people of different colors,’’ she added.

Prior to joining WBZ in 1969, Shaw was the director of a health care outreach program and a member of the Boston Community Media Council, founded to address newsroom diversity and access.

Through that effort, she met WBZ general manager Win Baker, who eventually offered her a job as a television reporter.

She had no experience as a reporter but saw the outlet as an effective way to get information out to her community and to produce reports highlighting contributions made by people of color.

Alice Verhoeven, who worked for Planned Parenthood during Shaw’s career, remembered her work well. Verhoeven recalled working with Shaw when the journalist covered a youth event held by her organization decades ago.

“I remember how well you captured the spirit of that program,’’ Verhoeven told Shaw on Sunday.

“She really tuned in to the essence of the kids and what they were trying to express,’’ Verhoeven told the Globe.

Shaw said she tried to do the stories that would have otherwise gone uncovered.

She covered housing hearings in Roxbury and Dorchester during a period of urban renewal and redlining.

In the 1970s, she was at the front lines reporting on school busing where she was met with racial epithets. She also reported on women’s issues, welfare rights, the poor, and the homeless.

She said on occasion people were shocked to learn that she, a black woman, was a television reporter.

“It was hard,’’ she said.

She recalled Sunday how surprised a receptionist at the State House was to learn that she was scheduled to interview a representative.

But throughout her career, she continued to be a fierce advocate for diversity in newsrooms.

Several of Shaw’s relatives attended the award ceremony.

Her daughter, Klare Shaw of Roxbury, said she was proud of her mother’s achievement.

She said her mother still attends community meetings weekly and is concerned about gentrification and education in the city.

On Sunday, Sarah-Ann Shaw insisted there is still more work to do to ensure fairness and equality for all.

“We as a country still have much to do to pry all the doors open.’’

Jan Ransom can be reached at jan.ransom@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Jan_Ransom.