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About
Us |
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In
the mid 1920's, a group of noted black funeral directors
realized the need to organize to provide a consortium
through which issues unique to the black community and the
black funeral director could be addressed. |
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The
following funeral directors met at the home of Mr. E.
Bradford of Bradford Funeral Service in Birmingham, AL: |
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Mr.
"Boss" Harris - Davenport and Harris Funeral
Home - Birmingham, AL
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Mr.
A.L. Welch - Birmingham, AL
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Mr.
Robert A. Ross - Ross-Clayton (formerly Ross-Jenkins
Funeral Home) - Birmingham, AL
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Mr.
C.W. Lee - Lee Funeral Home - Montgomery, AL
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Mr.
Fred D. Williams - Williams Undertaking - Selma, AL
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Mr.
W.E. Shortridge - Ensley, AL
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Mr.
Clarence W. Allen - Johnson-Allen Funeral Home - Mobile,
AL
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Mr.
Augustus C. Chambers, Sr. - Chambers Funeral Home -
Bessemer, AL
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Mrs.
Laura Chambers - Chambers Funeral Home - Bessemer, AL
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Mr.
A.L. "Dad" Smith - Smith & Gaston Funeral
Home - Birmingham, AL
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Mr.
Lawrence Stallworth - Stallworth-Johnson Funeral Home -
Ensley, AL
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The
organization was named the Alabama Colored Funeral Directors
and Embalmers. Mr. Robert A. Ross of then Ross-Jenkins
Funeral Home was elected as the first President. As the
organization progressed, the name was changed to the Alabama
Funeral Directors Association and later changed to its
current name, the Alabama Funeral Directors & Morticians
Association, Inc. |
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Most
of the founders of the organization were leaders in their
communities and played tremendous roles in planting the
seeds that have grown into our present strong and viable
association. |
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Although
during the early days of the association, access to luxury
hotels and resorts was denied to members, they met
diligently and consistently to address the needs of
membership and the people they served. Meeting sites
consisted of private homes, undertaking shops/homes, Masonic
lodges, and later between 1940-1960 black schools. |
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The
following is a partial listing of the Presidents of the
Alabama Funeral Directors & Morticians Association, Inc.
(whether known, under the nomenclature of the Alabama
Colored Funeral Directors and Embalmers, the Alabama Funeral
Directors Association, Inc. or its present name): |
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Mr.
Robert A. Ross
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Mr.
L. Fleming
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Mr.
A.L. Welch
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Mr.
H. Wise
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Mr.
W.E. Shortridge
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Mr.
A. Sumbry
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Mr.
C.W. Lee
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Mr.
R. Strickland
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Mr.
J.A. Geter
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Mr.
R.E. Nelms
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Mr.
Randall Miller
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Mr.
Eugene Hudson
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Mr.
Anthony Butler
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Mrs.
Mary McInnis
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Mr.
Virgil Sanders
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Mr.
James A. Jones
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Mr.
Herman Waters
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Mr.
Paul Rollins
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Mrs.
Annie Holt
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Ms.
Eleanor Dawkins
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Mr.
Howard Burton
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Mr.
Larry Fluker
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Mrs.
Rita E. Woods
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Mr.
Jeffery Harris
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The
ladies and gentlemen have led and continued to lead us as we
reflect on the past and build for the future. As an
organization conceived in an effort to fill, and has grown
as a result of its members rising to meet the challenges
that beset it., we today must stand firm in our realization
that only through hard work, determination and open
communication can the initial purpose of our organization
continue to be achieved. |
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