[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 162 (Thursday, December 9, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2099-E2100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING A LEGACY OF FUNERAL SERVICE BY THE 100 BLACK WOMEN OF FUNERAL 
SERVICE AND RECOGNIZING THE 2010 AFRICAN AMERICAN FUNERAL HOME HALL OF 
                             FAME INDUCTEES

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 9, 2010

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor a 
legacy of funeral service by the 100 Black Women of Funeral Service and 
recognize the 2010 African American Funeral Home Hall of Fame 
inductees.
  Funeral service has been a proud and distinguished tradition in the 
African American community for over a century. Throughout segregation 
in the United States, the funeral service industry was often the only 
sector that provided African Americans with entrepreneurial 
opportunities. The 100 Black Women of Funeral Service proudly continues 
that legacy today by serving their respective communities with great 
compassion and professionalism.

[[Page E2100]]

  Founded in San Antonio, Texas, in 1993 by Ms. Elleanor ``Mama 
Starks,'' the 100 Black Women of Funeral Service provides African 
American mortuary students and funeral service professionals with an 
excellent opportunity to work together and learn from each other. Its 
membership has grown to include the United States, Canada, and various 
African and Caribbean nations. Among the many honors that 100 Black 
Women of Funeral Service members have received are The President's 
Award and The Living Legend Award. Networking, sisterhood, scholarship, 
mentoring, leadership, service, and professional development are the 
tenets of the 100 Black Women of Funeral Service as it continues to 
provide support to those entering the funeral service profession.
  Every 5 years, the African American Funeral Home Hall of Fame 
recognizes the important work performed by African Americans in the 
funeral service industry. This year, 26 funeral homes from across the 
country were inducted into the African American Funeral Home Hall of 
Fame. These inductees have been serving their communities for over 100 
years and are still operated by third to sixth generation family 
members. This is truly incredible.
  It is with great pleasure that I congratulate the following funeral 
homes on their recent induction into the African American Funeral Home 
Hall of Fame: Joseph Locks Funeral Home of Baltimore, Maryland (founded 
in 1837); Carl Miller Funeral Home of Camden, New Jersey (founded in 
1861); JW Wilkerson Funeral Establishment of Petersburg, Virginia 
(founded in 1874); Gertrude Geddes-Willis Funeral Home of New Orleans, 
Louisiana (founded in 1879); Berry and Gardner Funeral Home of 
Franklin, Tennessee (founded in 1882); Charbonnet-Labat Funeral Home of 
New Orleans, Louisiana (founded in 1883); Rhodes Funeral Home of New 
Orleans, Louisiana (founded in 1884); Jarnigan and Son Mortuary of 
Knoxville, Tennessee (founded in 1886); Hutchings Funeral Home of 
Macon, Georgia (founded in 1895); Grays Funeral Home of Cape Charles, 
Virginia (founded in 1895); Davenport and Harris Funeral Home of 
Birmingham, Alabama (founded in 1899); Mrs. JW Jones Memorial Chapel of 
Kansas City, Kansas (founded in 1899); James E. Churchman, Jr. Funeral 
Home of Newark, New Jersey (founded in 1899); Cox Bros Funeral Home of 
Atlanta, Georgia (founded in 1900); Elliott Funeral Home of Albany, 
Georgia (founded in 1900); Stewart Funeral Home of Washington, DC 
(founded in 1900); Collins Funeral Home of Jackson, Mississippi 
(founded in 1903); Diehl-Whittaker Funeral Service of Columbus, Ohio 
(founded in 1905); EF Boyd and Son Funeral Home and Crematory in 
Cleveland, Ohio (founded in 1905); Marion Daniels and Sons Funeral Home 
of New York City (founded in 1905); Larkin and Scott Funeral Home 
(founded in 1905); Larkin and Scott Funeral Home of Demopolis, Alabama 
(founded in 1907); Murray Henderson Funeral Home of New Orleans, 
Louisiana (founded in 1909); Lewis Funeral Home of San Antonio, Texas 
(founded in 1909); and Scott's Funeral Home of Richmond, Virginia 
(founded in 1910).
  Madam Speaker, as we celebrate the rich history of African Americans 
in the funeral service profession, I would like to thank the 100 Black 
Women of Funeral Service and the 2010 African American Funeral Home 
Hall of Fame inductees for all that they have done, and continue to do, 
for their communities and the funeral service tradition.

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