Director's Insight Magazine - Spring 2018

DIRECTOR’SINSIGHT WWW.DIRECTORSINSIGHTMAG.COM | SPRING 2018 | ISSUE 13‘Queen’ laidtorestDirector’sInsightFeature-Page10 onKingDay FAMILY AND FRIENDS ENTERED THE WORSHIP CENTER AT ENGLEWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH ON MONDAY, WITH DENISE LASALLE’S RECORDING OF THE GOSPEL SONG“GOD DON’T MAKE MISTAKES”PLAYING OVER THE CHURCH’S SOUND SYSTEM. - Page 12LEAD BY MAJOR CLORA, THE THE TEMPTATIONS CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST PEGGY FUNERAL HOME DAMAGED BYDETROIT BASED FIRM HAS LEAD SINGER DIES JUST JEAN CONNOR REMEMBERED STORM GETS NEW LOCATIONMADE IT THEIR MISSION IS TO ONE DAY BEFORE HIS AS A ‘STRONG INDIVIDUAL’ Page - 22HONOR LIFE IN EVERY ASPECT 75TH BIRTHDAY AFTER Page - 16OF WHAT THEY DO. COMPLICATIONS FROMPage - 08 MENINGITIS Page - 10

TABLE of Contents 04 BLACK-OWNED FUNERAL HOME OPENS IN SOUTH ST. LOUIS 06 HARTWELL RAGSDALE III, OF PROMINENT SAN DIEGO MORTUARY FAMILY, DIES AT 64 08 CLORA FUNERAL HOMES 10 THE TEMPTATIONS LEAD SINGER DIES JUST ONE DAY BEFORE HIS 75TH BIRTHDAY AFTER COMPLICATIONS FROM MENINGITIS 11 COLUMBUS YOUTH AIM TO INSPIRE WITH OLDE TOWNE EAST MURAL 12 ‘QUEEN’ LAID TO REST ON KING DAYPAGE2

14 FUNERAL FOOD: A TRADITION THAT DOESN’T DIE16 CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST PEGGY JEAN CONNOR REMEMBERED AS A ‘STRONG INDIVIDUAL’18 LIFE AND LEGACY OF FRANKIE MUSE FREEMAN CELEBRATED AT HOMEGOING SERVICE21 NASA CELEBRATES LEGACY OF FIRST BLACK AMERICAN ASTRONAUT22 FUNERAL HOME DAMAGED BY STORM GETS NEW LOCATION24 UNIDENTIFIED FOR DECADES, TEXAS SOLDIER RECEIVES FINAL RITES PAGE 3

BLACK-OWNED FUNERAL HOMEOPENS IN SOUTH ST. LOUISBrandon Henry, age 32, opened his own funeral funeral home.” home on December 22, Henry Funeral and Cremation Services, which made him (as far as After high school, he became a St. Louis Countyhe knows) the youngest funeral home owner in St. police officer, and continued in that job for sevenLouis, as well as the only African-American funeral years. After Ferguson, however, he changed hisdirector in South St. Louis. Although he is bringing mind about how he wanted to serve his communi-something new to the industry, he is also standing ty: through funeral services.on the shoulders of an enormous legacy – that ofthe Gebken-Benz Mortuary, whose building he took As Henry was on the hunt for a way back into theover. business, fate brought him to Larry and Kay Benz, the couple who had recently put the former Geb-Gebken-Benz Mortuary was founded in 1886 and ken-Benz funeral home on the market.the building Henry acquired from the Benz familyhas been standing since 1904, so Henry spent much His wife’s family lives in South St. Louis, and leav-of his first month there renovating – “Giving it a little ing a family function he drove past the building. HeTLC,” as he said. He excitedly pointed out some of was inspired to contact the family about the statusthe architectural features of the Meramec Street of the property is – just days after they decided tobuilding – arched plaster ceilings, large wooden sell the building.doors, and stained glass with little hourglasses on it.However, Henry has changed some features of thebuilding, such as removing the dated carpet fromthe hallway and repainting some of the rooms.“We’ve just made it a little bit more contemporary,if there is such a thing as making a funeral homecontemporary,” Henry said.Though Henry is young, he has a long history inthe funeral services business, dating back to whenhe was 17 years old. As a high school student, heinterned at Wade Funeral Home.“I guess the passion for serving people just evolvedfrom there,” he said. “So I just kind of went on ser-vices and just learned about how to treat people inservices, and what went on at a PAGE 4

Igot this message, and I don’t know who he is, I don’t know anything about him,” Kay Benz said, “Then he came in, and this relationship just clicked. We could sit with Brandon for hours and just yak yak yak – about the industry, and how it’s changed, and our families.” “Historically, one of the first businesses that an African-American person could have was funeral services,” he said. “So, typically, people kind of knew who the local funeral director was in the St. Louis area. Funeral directors were kind of known as the pillars of the African-American community due to that fact, and being involved in the churches.” Henry is trying to be that pillar of the community by meeting with all neighbors and knocking on doors. (He spoke with the principal of the school down the street the day after his interview with The American.) “By me being the only African-American funeral director in South St. Louis, I think it’s very imperative that we be a business that is involved with education, and involved with other issues that may deal with the community in this neighborhood,” Henry said. Kay believed in Henry the second she met him. “We knew it, when he walked in the door. We kept thinking, this is gonna work. It’ll take a little while, but this is gonna work.” Henry also sees this as a match made in heaven: “I walked in and, well, you can feel the love in this building.”PAGE5

Funeral Home Directors SayService Is Key To SurvivalHistoric African American owned funeral homes are and provided other community services.’’ disappearing across the country as large corporate According to Williams, the NFDMA started a 40 and under entities move into what was once considered the “Black” group to reach out and bring younger people into the organ-market. Corporate acquisitions of former Black-owned funeral ization and involve them in future plans to strengthen thehomes pose a dynamic set of challenges today to independent organization, she said.homes nationally, as well as in Cincinnati. The funeral home industry overall faces more pressure toHistorically, racial segregation within the mortuary industry publish the prices of their goods and services online sohelped create a class of African American millionaires, accord- consumers can comparison shop without calling or visiting aing to a 1953 Ebony magazine articled titled, “Death is Big funeral home, funeral directors say. This limits questions andBusiness.” Also historically, funeral parlors run by White fu- can be misleading to the consumer.neral directors did not usually welcome business from AfricanAmericans, according to the Ebony article, thereby creating a Richard Stewart, of Stewart Funeral Home at 3437 Mont-segregated market that lasted for years. “Black people knew gomery Road, said when he began working in the business atthey could count on Black-owned funeral homes to honor Houston & Sons Funeral Homes on Gilbert Avenue in 1953,and preserve their burial traditions. Most importantly, the de- there were 18 African American-owned mortuaries in theceased…and their family…were given a respect that was not city. Now, only eight Black-owned independents remain.always rendered to them in life,’’ the article reported. No independently-owned Black funeral home in city can inToday, the NFDMA, the oldest and largest Black trade group many aspects compete with the larger firms, except for pro-in the industry, represents 1,200 members today compared viding outstanding, personal service, said Harden-Renfro. “Ito 3,000 members in 1997. Nationwide there were 3,800 can’t say that the corporate newcomers do not provide goodAfrican American owned mortuaries compared to 2,600 to- service. However in today’s pricing game, services we haveday. “Many today,” Williams said, “cannot afford to keep their always included in our pricing is now an additional price thatdoors open.” is added back on to that low, advertised price. So the result is the customer went to them for a lower price, but paid more“Back in the day, the Black funeral business was a minis- in the end for services.try that was often directed by ministers,’’ she said. “Thosebusinesses provided ambulance services to the hospitals for When business gets challenging, Harden-Renfro said herBlacks who were not served by White-owned ambulance husband Julian always reminds her to, “Do the best you can,services. They served as bail bondsmen, paid people’s rent treat people right, and you will remain in business.’’6PAGE



CloraFuneral Homeswith three locations in Detroit, purchasing a local funeral home in the area. Even though that Michigan, Clora Funeral Homes initial opportunity didn’t work out due to some structural issues, have truly made a name for this was a blessing in disguise. After Major decided to pass on themselves. Lead by Major Clora, this initial chance to buy an already established funeral home, he the Detroit based firm has made instead began to look for property to start his own. it their mission is to honor life in every aspect of what they do. Whether it is helping a family “Six months later, after looking at 20 or more additional work through arrangements for the loss of a loved one, assisting properties, I noticed that the church property had dropped quite them in pre-planning funeral needs, or providing a beautiful a bit in price. I then found out that the church was originally setting to celebrate the life of a loved one, Clora Funeral Homes a funeral home that had been converted into a church and I work hard to provide a meaningful memorial of lives well lived to decided to strike up a deal since I knew the church was very the families they serve. motivated to sell at this point. We closed on that property in March 2008 and opened our doors later that year in October,” When he was just 18 years old, Major began working in a he explains. funeral home to earn extra money for college. At the time he was pursuing a degree in physical therapy, so getting a job he In the first 2 months, Major and his staff serviced 36 families, could do on the weekends and evenings when he didn’t have 150 families in the first full year, and the growth only con- class was the perfect fit. At first Major’s responsibilities were tinued from there. Clora Funeral Homes now serve over 700 small and included handling the maintenance around the funeral families a year in the Detroit area. home, but just being around the profession he quickly fell in love with it and changed his major at Wayne State University to After that initial growth, Major knew he was going to need Mortuary Science. another property. This time he began his search in South West Detroit. One of the first properties he found was an abandon After graduating from school, Major left the funeral home bank building that had been left untouched in Detroit for over where he first realized his love for the industry in the hopes of 12 years.PAGE8

We make it our goal toraise them up even intheir darkest hour, it’swho we areJust a few months later, Major got a call from his realtor that he and smell fresh. There are scriptures located around eachwas able to contact someone in regards to the bank property facility to offer some words of encouragement and to help putand they told Major to make an offer. Any offer. So he did. He the families at peace as well as some inspirational artwork.made an offer of $30,000, they countered at $40,000, and justlike that the property he thought he lost was his for $37,000 “It is our goal to lift people up when they are here and withoutand they officially opened their doors in October 2012. our amazing staff and overall atmosphere that wouldn’t be possible. We make it our goal to raise them up even in their“After that I knew I still needed a mark on the western side of darkest hour, it’s who we are,” he continues.Detroit so when a local funeral home on that side went out ofbusiness, I approached them to make an offer,” adds Major. At Clora, they understand the importance of developing trust with the families they serve, as well as their community. TheIn June 2017, Clora Funeral Homes officially had three points Detroit firm believes in educating families so that informedon the map in Detroit. After some extensive remodeling on the decisions can be made during times of vulnerability andnewest property, the doors were open for business on October emotional stress. Lead by Major, their experienced team prides15, 2017. itself on helping families find traditional as well as unique ways to memorialize their loved ones, discovering meaning andWhen families choose Clora Funeral Homes, the first thing they comfort in the process. They believe in high standards whennotice is the staff. In the funeral industry, having a great group it comes to their service and they will provide nothing less toof people you know and trust supporting you is a key factor to each and every family that walks through their doors. Driven bysuccess. The Detroit firm treats each family that walks in the passion and love for their community it’s no surprise that thedoor as if they were their own. firm has been so successful. Clora Funeral Homes have truly created a name for themselves, a name that will continue to“That’s not just a cliche here, it’s a way of life,” stresses Major. serve their Detroit communities for generations to come.Each location is clean and modern. They are bright, welcoming, PAGE 9

Dennis Edwards Dead: The Temptationslead singer dies just one day before his75th birthday after complications frommeningitisDennis Edwards has sadly died just one day before his 75th Dennis joined The Temptations in 1968, replacing David Ruffin,birthday. and enjoyed many stints with the group up until 1989. He also attempted a solo career, landing a hit in 1984 with his singleThe former lead singer of The Temptations has passed away in Don’t Look Any Further.hospital following complications from meningitis. The sad newswas confirmed by his family to American news organisation CBS Dennis had served time in the US military before auditioningChicago. for Detroit’s Motown Records in 1966. He was signed but placed on retainer, but got his big break when he was broughtGrammy-winning Dennis will forever be remembered for in to join The Contours after their lead singer fell ill. The groupcrooning his way through huge hits such as Papa Was a Rollin’ were the opening act for the Temptations on a number of oc-Stone and I Can’t Get Next To You. He would have turned 75 casions, and group members Eddie Kendricks and Otis Williamstomorrow. Dennis passed away in Chicago, reportedly while liked what they saw in Eddie.They’d already been thinking aboutgoing through rehabilitation suffering from an aneurysm. getting rid of their current lead singer, David Ruffin, and went on to recruit Dennis, who quit the Contours to join the band.Dennis’ nephew, Jason Quebec, paid tribute to him online,saying: “My uncle Dennis Edwards passed away this morning. The Temptations’ story went on to be made into a 1998 televi-Please keep my family in prayer. sion mini series, with Charles Ley taking on the role of Dennis.“You were truly a class act, Dennis. I will miss you more than Dennis, who was born in Alabama in 1943, was once marriedwords can describe. It’s been a privilege to have been in your to Pointer Sisters singer Ruth Pointer. They tied the knot in Laspresence.” Vegas in 1977 but it was a brief marriage. He later remarried a woman named Brenda. PAGE 10

COWLIUTMH BOULDS YEOTOUWTHNAEIMEATSOT MINUSPRIARLETo LeaderSpark program manager Solomon Garner, the phrase was a perfect representation of the youths’ response to their challenging environment. “A lot of them have seen some traumatic events ... and are surrounded by violence,” said Garner, who will speak about the mural as part of theIn 2016, a group of teenagers on the Youth Advisory “Conversations & Coffee” series at Columbus Cultural ArtsCouncil of LeaderSpark, a Columbus-based youth leadership Center on Thursday, Jan. 11. “Yet they’re still standing. They’reorganization, attended 17 funerals of young people killed in still going strong. They’re still walking around with smiles onthe city. their faces.”“They weren’t necessarily people that they knew, but they In response, the Youth Advisory Council interviewed otherwanted to be able to show their compassion and their young people and developed a white paper, “Youth Truth,”empathy,” said LeaderSpark Executive Director Kay Wilson. which they presented directly to Mayor Andrew Ginther in”[And] they noticed in their own personal situations, 2016. The document outlined major issues they wanted tosometimes, if somebody was killed ... it was the parents or tackle, including job readiness, substance abuse, safety, traumacousins or distant family members that would talk about and mental health.retaliation. ... And so they wanted to be there also as peermediators to be able to quell the situation.” Like the white paper, the mural is another way for the young people to advocate for themselves, and the artists involvedSome of those funerals took place at Wayne T. Lee Funeral were careful to listen, rather than approach the project as anServices in Olde Towne East, next door to the LeaderSpark addition to the neighborhood.office within HUB Community Development Corporation. Soit was fitting that the kids helped create a mural representing Wilson was especially moved by the young people, who invit-rebirth and growth on the wall facing the funeral home. ed their friends along to help. “It was just so beautiful because ... we had African-American kids, we had Latino kids out there,“They tried to bury us but they didn’t know we were seeds” we had some Asian kids out here [and] we had Caucasian kidsis printed on the building in distinct, green, 3-D letters, out there,” she said. “It brought them together.”surrounded by leaves. The council, consisting of 18 youngpeople, brainstormed phrase and image ideas. They then “I really do believe the saying, ‘It takes a village to raise apresented them to local graphic designer Patrick Torres and child,’” Garner said. “One of our biggest goals was really get-architectural designer Julie Martin, who worked on the mural, ting the community out there for the mural ... [to] show thewhich was completed in mid-November. youth people really do care.” PAGE 11

‘Queen’ LaidTo Rest OnKing DayFDesire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, nor a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everythingamily and friends“Mama died three months afterentered the worship daddy did, and she didn’t get to putcenter at Englewood that song on plastic. But Denise didBaptist Church on it for Mama. And we appreciated itMonday, with Denise so much.”LaSalle’s recording ofthe Gospel song “God Stories were shared about howDon’t Make Mistakes” LaSalle’s career and life touchedplaying over the so many.tua ses vivatal aritimumchurch’s sound system proraelaris verrart immors ca;as they began to say huidiem egercer fendium, Caticgoodbye to the Queen firisqua ad det.of the Blues. During the service,they heard the story behind the “Denise LaSalle touched moreoriginal recording of that song. people and ministered to more lives than most of us preachers“Denise and (husband James Wolfe) do,” said Morris Allen, LaSalle’stook care of our family and our nephew who pastors Green Grovemother,” said LaSalle’s sister-in-law Baptist Church in her hometownKay Wolfe. She loved her fans so much and sheShe told the story of how the Wolfe wanted her music tofamily had a gospel singing group speak to them, andat home in Marianna, Arkansas, wanted to help themwhen they were children, and their however she could.”mother had the dream of recordinga Gospel record.“After Denise and James got of Belzoni, Mississippi, while hemarried, and had all these people, delivered the eulogy. “She was athey brought us to a studio in better psychologist than Dr. PhilMemphis to make a record, because ever could be.Mama wanted to put her music toplastic,” Kay Wolfe said. “Then later LaSalle was compared to biblicalon Mama wrote a song, while our figures such as Esther and Ruth.daddy was on his deathbed, called She was praised for her musical‘God Don’t Make Mistakes.’ talents and accomplishments. PAGE 12

B ut she was mainly remembered for the person she was away from the stage and the recording studio. “I was told before she passed that she died at one point, and they were able to bring her back for about 20 minutes,” said Sheba Potts-Wright, LaSalle’s goddaughter. “I think when she died that first time, she saw Jesus, and then she came back to tell everyone bye because she was leaving. “Because she’s with Jesus now and is up there waiting on us.” Dr. Daryll Coleman, pastor of Mother Liberty CME Church, and LaSalle’s pastor, mentioned the Denise LaSalle Blues Academy that she and Wolfe had been trying to establish. “You can see the sign for the school at 718 North Highland, and we’re working to make it happen as a promise as Denise’s pastor that her dream will come alive,” Coleman said. He also said plans were in place for LaSalle to become the artist in residence for the Lane College music department and mass communication department. That announcement was set to be made in February. “But this academy will happen,” Coleman said. Blues artists including Nellie “Tiger” Travis, Willie Clayton, Sir Charles Jones and Bobby Rush were in attendance. LaSalle’s good friend Millie Jackson wasn’t able to make it to the funeral. James Wolfe, who has been in the hospital for more than a week with congestive heart failure, did make it to his wife’s service. “We’re here to raise the queen, and I believe we’ve done that,” Coleman said.PAGE13

Funeral Food: A Tradition That Doesn’t Die Nothing motivates someone to get into the kitchen more than a funeral. That’s how Perre Coleman Magness opens her latest cookbook on funeral food and Southern hospitality. Funerals in the South are synonymous with classic comfort food, and Magness’ Southern Sympathy Cookbook includes nearly 80 go-to recipes. Although the topic is timeless, it’s also “trending,” according to the author. “At its heart, it’s really comfort food, and that’s something people really love and are looking for more and more these days,” she told Life Matters Media. The idea for this cookbook originated with her publisher, Countryman Press. Though 47 year-old Magness has studied culinary arts in London, Thailand, France and Morocco, she chose to highlight the recipes of the region around where she keeps her kitchen: Memphis, Tenn. “I could do Southern funerals because that’s what I know,” Magness said. When she began working on the book, she asked everyone about the first thing they think of when they think of “funeral food.” Everyone’s first answer, across race and region, was fried chicken. Casseroles are also carried along on the funeral circuit by many hoping to comfort the grieving. Magness modernized some classic recipes by moving away from canned soups and packaged mixes. “They still have that really comforting flavor,” she said. “I would rather someone brought me macaroni and cheese than a kale salad.” The book is charming — and at times, grave and irreverent. Between recipes for Sweet Tea Bread, Buttermilk Bacon Stuffed Eggs and Jack and Coke Sheet Cake are obituaries and stories she stumbled upon while doing her research.PAGE14

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Civil Rights Activist PeggyJean Connor Remembered AsA ‘Strong Individual’“I am awed at the life and Hattiesburg was a hotbed of civil rights activity in summerlegacy of Peggy Jean 1964. Peggy Jean Connor, a beautician who had a shop onConnor, who was one of Mobile Street, was at the heart of the struggle to get blackthose foot soldiers who was residents registered to vote.‘sick and tired of being sickand tired,” Over the years, Connor remained active in Hattiesburg, pushing for change, including advocating for changing the name of Market Street back to Mobile Street in 2006. In an earlier story, Connor said part of the street’s name was changed before World War II to help segregate soldiers coming through Hattiesburg. Connor, 85, died Jan. 13. A funeral service will be Saturday at Zion Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church. People who knew Connor say she was a quiet woman, yet exuded a force that propelled the Pine Belt’s civil rights movement. PAGE 16

She had a quiet demeanor,” said Herbert Randall, a Connor represented MFDP at the 1964 Democratic New York photographer who documented Freedom National Convention in Atlantic City — a daunting task for Summer activity in 1964. “However, it was very a woman who didn’t like the spotlight. clear she was a strong individual — in a very quietway.” Connor also was secretary-treasurer of the Council of Federated Organizations in Hattiesburg.Michael Marks, a former Hattiesburg High teacher, said hegot to know Connor when she helped out during Marks’ Being an activist wasn’t easy, but it was something she felt“Katrina Project” theater production about surviving the she needed to do, her daughter Felecia Young said.deadly hurricane of 2005. Young of Tulsa, Oklahoma, said her mother came by itHe recalled Connor worked to help improve the quality of naturally, as her father, John Henry Gould, was himself alife for her fellow black Mississippians. civic-minded community member.“I am awed at the life and legacy of Peggy Jean Connor, After leaving an abusive husband, Connor returned to herwho was one of those foot soldiers who parents’ home, where Gould became like a father to Youngwas ‘sick and tired of and her siblings. Connor faced adversity with as much grace as her tiny 99-pound frame could muster, Young said. But her work often took her away from her family, whether it was committee meetings, travel to Washington or being jailed for alleged crimes. “From the standpoint of a child, my mom was gone,” Young said. being sick She was instrumental in getting a fairer racial distribution and tired,’” Marks said. of population for legislative districts, which paved the way for blacks to make successful bids for election. The lawsuit,With Victoria Jackson Gray Adams and J.C. Fairley, Connor Peggy Jean Connor et al. vs. Paul B. Johnson Jr., was filedwas co-founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic in 1965, but a verdict in the case was not reached untilParty and was elected executive secretary. 1979.Blacks in Mississippi often were turned down when they At the urging of the Southern Christian Leadershiptried to register to vote, and they were not allowed to join Conference, Connor taught citizenship classes at True Lightthe traditional Democratic Party so they decided to form Baptist Church to prepare black citizens for what theytheir own. would need to successfully register to vote.Raylawni Branch, one of two women who integrated the In addition to civil rights, Connor said she was instrumentalUniversity of Southern Mississippi in 1965, said while she in getting the Head Start program, then called the Childwas active in furthering civil rights in Hattiesburg, Connor Development Group of Mississippi, in Hattiesburg. It waswas a leader, spearheading the direction of the movement. one of the first cities in the country to get what was then a pilot program for early education.“Miss Peggy was a war horse,” Branch said. “She was inmeetings and things that I was not part of. I was a worker.” Connor’s efforts are recognized in an exhibit at the newly opened Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson. PAGE 17

Life and Legacy of Frankie The homecoming celebration Muse Freeman Celebrated of Frankie Muse Freeman at Homegoing Service on Saturday, January 20 was held at WashingtonGood design is all Tabernacle Missionary Baptistabout making other Church, just blocks away from wheredesigners feel like hundreds of women were preparingidiots because that idea to march against a patriarchalwasn’t theirs. status quo. They marched for wage parity, respect and an end to sexual harassment and exploitation. It was a fitting coincidence. Freeman – who passed Friday, January 12 at age 101 – had been a determined, lifelong foe of sexism and racism. “There has been gender discrimination from the beginning of the world,” Freeman once said. “The point is that you have to combat it. But you have to combat it consistently.” As Rabbi Emeritus Howard Kaplansky said during the homecoming service, Freeman was “challenged with hate. But there were so many ground-breaking accomplishments and world-changing achievements through her journey.” “Because Frankie Freeman lived a meaningful life, African Americans and marginalized people in America are able to be included in fair housing, education, boardrooms, and the like,” said St. Louis Public Safety Director Jimmie Edwards. As she addressed the church congregation packed with about a thousand mourners, Freeman’s daughter, Shelbe Freeman Bullock, remembered a beloved mother, more than an historic change agent. “To me, she is mom, my mother,” Bullock said. “And I want to tell you a little about her – not the professional side, but the personal side. She was warm, loving, caring, generous, tenacious and funny, and often irreverent.” PAGE 18

Her homegoing was often punctuated with laughter Walk with Thee.” and the syncopated rhythm of jazz and gospel music, evoking the “Frankie” many knew. She After the family left the church, they stopped at the was a devoted fan of the arts, played the piano, recently installed bronze statue of Freeman in Kiener Plaza had enough jazz and gospel albums to rival a professional to plant several bouquets, then drove by the namesake collector, and wasn’t shy about taking to the dance floor. Frankie Freeman Ville Estates in North City, and then back to the Central West End, where Freeman had lived for It was a musical service, led by Dello Thedford on piano more than 50 years. and Charles Creath on organ and fronted by a series of vocalists, including Denise Thimes, Karen Hylton and Former Missouri Gov. Bob Holden and U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Freeman’s adult nephew Edward R. Muse. “Lift Ev’ry Voice” Clay, who flew in from Washington, D.C., that morning, was never sung so masterfully before baritone Jermaine also were in attendance. U.S. Senate Claire McCaskill Smith mounted the pulpit, and dramatic soprano Brenda was detained with the U.S. Senate’s deliberations in Jackson received one of several standing ovations for her Washington, D.C., but sent a statement that was read by rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer.” Washington Tabernacle’s Pastor Rob Mclish.“Many of you knew her as the drum major for social justice, Mayor Lyda Krewson, who was a neighbor and the alder-civil rights and women’s rights,” said Ron Himes, founder of woman during Freeman’s Central West End residency;the Black Rep, “but we knew her as a lover and patron and County Executive Steve Stenger; Dr. William Danforth,champion for the arts. She loved the arts, she loved the chancellor emeritus of Washington University; AdolphusBlack Rep. She gave her time, advice and financial support Pruitt, NAACP St. Louis City Branch president; grand-to make sure we could do our work.” daughter Nichole Fordson; and Carolyn Thomas, a friend, also spoke at the service.During his thunderous eulogy, Rev. Donnie Robinson Sr.of Washington Tabernacle said that Freeman was “pre- “She was reared in the Jim Crow-era South when racialdestined” by God to become a lawyer. segregation was legal, and she witnessed first-hand the harsh consequences of racial inequality,” McCaskill wrote of“Every time she walked into a court, she had to take the Freeman. “From these beginnings, Frankie chose to devotecaptain of her soul with her,” Robinson said. “Today, we can her entire career to ending that injustice.”say to Sister Frankie Freeman that the case is closed, andthe verdict is well done.”As the procession left for Calvary Cemetery, the BosmanTwins performed a swinging rendition of “Just A Closer PAGE 19



NASA Celebrates Legacy of First Black American Astronaut Fifty years ago, a tragic accident ended the groundbreaking career of Major Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., a Chicago native and stellar Air Force pilot who became America’s first Black astronaut. On December 8, 2017—the 50th anniversary of his death—NASA honored his often- ignored legacy and contributions to the agency. In planning a story for its annual Black History Month edition, Chicago Crusader staffers discovered that little was being done to honor Lawrence, while NASA held memorials to mark the 50th anniversary of three, White astronauts who perished in a fire aboard the Apollo 1 space module, during a preflight test. The Crusader story lauding Lawrence’s achievements was published in dozens of Black newspapers after the National Newspapers Publishers Association (NNPA) carried it on its newswire. Born in 1935 to the late Gwendolyn Duncan and Robert H. Lawrence, Sr., the future Air Force pilot was a man ahead of his time. Long before magnet and STEM programs were part of the high school curriculum, Lawrence excelled in math and science. As a United States Air Force pilot, Lawrence ac- cumulated over 2,500 flight hours. In June 1967, Lawrence graduated from the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School (Class ‘66B) at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. In that same month, he was selected by the USAF as an astronaut for their Manned Orbital Laboratory (MOL) program, thus becom- ing the first Black astronaut. “On Dec. 8, 1997, on the thirtieth anniversary of his death, Lawrence had his name unveiled on the Florida memorial,” NBC News reported.21PAGE

FUNERAL HOME DAMAGED BY STORM GETS NEW LOCATIONEllen Gladden could feel the weight of the commitment she had made to the original owner as she sloshed through theflood-damaged Paye Funeral Home the day after HurricaneMatthew blew through town.Gladden had returned to her hometown of Fayettevilleafter retirement in 1998 to help her sister, Maybob, and herbrother-in-law, Jimmy Paye, run the business. Paye FuneralHome is one of the city’s oldest African-American funeralhomes, established in 1957 in the Payes’ residence on BraggBoulevard.Jimmy Paye died in 2005, his wife four years later.About two weeks before Matthew hit on Oct. 8, 2016, aSeptember tropical storm unleashed severe flooding to partsof Fayetteville and the Cape Fear region. The funeral homeon Murchison Road had flood damage, and employees wererefurbishing the place.The funeral home never closed after that first storm in lateSeptember. PAGE 22

When I walked in there,” she said, Management Agency does not offer alluding to the day following that grant assistance to businesses; theominous Saturday in October, “I felt agency does provide referrals forlike I was totally defeated. I felt there business owners.was no future for me and Paye FuneralHome. I felt like I was going against the Paye Funeral Home did not havecommitment I made with Mr. Paye.” insurance coverage, Gladden said. She added that the money to get theBut even then, the funeral home mortuary back in full operation — moreremained in business, thanks to a good than $500,000— was provided by herSamaritan in the same line of work. and her sister, Dolores Brinkley of New York City.Come Thursday, Paye Funeral Home isholding a ribbon cutting and relocation Lost in the flooding was vintageopening at 11 a.m. at its new facility furniture, lamps, tables, records andat 2013-B Ramsey St. The former site, other paperwork.a large brick building with a memorialchapel at 515 Murchison Road, “This is the blessing,” she said withhas been condemned, according to dramatic flair.Gladden. When the director of the N.C. Funeral“We’ll never be in there again,” she said Board told Gladden she could not keepfrom the new building, former home to the business pre-need files at her home,International Minute Press and Daily where she maintained a temporaryWalk Ministries. “Our hope is to build office in her living room, they begananother funeral home on Murchison looking for something temporary. TheRoad, across from Fayetteville State, on new site is less than a mile from theheir property left by mom and dad.” former Murchison Road location.She said the former building was “It’s a legacy. We’re very happy to bea total loss, and she was unable to back,” she said. “It’s not a job for us. It’sdraw financial assistance from the a calling.”government. The Federal Emergency PAGE 23

A Black Bank WitnessedDevastation After The 1968 Riots.Now ‘The Future Is bright.’APatricia Mitchell, is executive vice president of Industrial Bank, and her brother B. Doyles the firesapplications from black people Mitchell Jr. is its president and chief executive. Their grandfather founded the bank in 1934.exploded alongwho could deposit money in the U Street in city’s white-owned banks but Northwest couldn’t get loans from those same Washington, institutions. Daisy Sewell looked out the Industrial Bank, which was window of the founded in 1934 during the Great city’s only black- Depression, had financed loans for owned bank and black churches, black businesses saw a well- and black people buying houses. dressed man with The bank, with its golden vault,a hat holding up a brick, aiming for stood in a prime location on Uthe bank’s lobby window. Street, fueling the wealth on what was known as Black Broadway. TheSewell, an Industrial Bank customer street was a black-financed worldservice representative, raced of black theaters and jazz clubs,outside and yelled at him to stop. black lawyers and pharmacists, black newspapers and flower“Are you a soul sister?” the man shops. It also housed the localdemanded. offices for two major civil rights groups, the Student Nonviolent“Damn right,” Sewell told him. Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the Southern ChristianThe brick-thrower walked away. Leadership Conference (SCLC).And Industrial Bank, which sits Over the years, Industrial Bankat 11th and U streets NW, was had built a large and dedicatedspared during three days of riots customer base. Celebrities — in-that followed the April 4, 1968, cluding Duke Ellington, who livedassassination of Martin Luther King on T Street a couple of blocksJr. No windows were broken. No away, heavyweight champion Joefires were set. No bottle rockets Louis, singers Ethel Waters, Sarahwere thrown into the lobby, where Vaughan and Nat King Cole —the bank’s founder, Jesse Homer were customers and friends ofMitchell, once sat taking loan the bank’s board members. When PAGE 24

S idney Poitier, star of the 1967 movie “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” came to Washington, he visited the bank. Patricia Mitchell, granddaughter of Jesse Mitchell, was a little girl when the uprising erupted. “I remember hearing about it,” she said, sitting in the lobby of Industrial Bank, where she now serves as executive vice president.On Aug. 20, 1934, at the height of the Great Depression, Industrial Bank of Washington opened with six employees.“The bank’s first customer was Lewis A. Johnson, the contractor who had written to President Roosevelt” about the needfor a black-owned financial institution, according to “Industrial Bank,” a book about its history. “Many white banks sent flow-ers as a show of respect to [Jesse] Mitchell and a fellow bank rising from the rubble of the Great Depression.”Industrial Bank has stayed in the Mitchell family for three generations: Jesse Mitchell’s son — B. Doyle Mitchell Sr. — be-came the bank’s president in 1954. Then Doyle Jr. and Patricia took over after their dad died in 1993. In 50 years of operation since the riots, the bank has continued to grow, even as thousands of people moved to the suburbs, even as a crack-cocaine epidemic gripped the city in the 1980s, even as Metro construction all but shut down U Street in the 1990s. These days, Industrial Bank customers are in- creasingly diverse, with white newcomers making deposits alongside African Americans. When the bank opened a branch in Anacostia in 2009, the first customer to make a deposit was a white man. The bank has witnessed — and profited from — a remarkable resurgence along the U Street corri- dor. The houses that were once worth nothing are now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, making them sources of wealth for black home- owners but putting them out of reach for many black buyers. Rents have soared above $2,400 a month for some one-bedroom apartments. As for the future of black customers, “that de- pends on who you are,” he said. “If you are low and moderate income, there is a need to increase education and technical skills. As the world becomes more technology-oriented, that will require another level of training and education. “The future of black people is in our own hands.” PAGE 25

PRSRT STDUSPOSTAGEPAID DALLAS, TXPERMITNO.2247