CLARK FUNERAL HOME, ROANOKE, ALABAMA
A Guided Digital Tour Of The Lives, Legacies and Works Of Wilkie And Hattie Lee (Peters) Clark as presented by their offspring: their only daughter, Mrs. Charlotte A. Clark-Frieson; grandson, Wilkie S. Frieson, and Granddaughter, Je'Lynn M. Frieson.
AN ALABAMA HISTORIC LANDMARK SITE
a deeper dive...
into the life and legacy of lucius l. fleming, Anniston, Alabma
A turn-of-the-century TRAILBLAZER in Funeral Service and Beacon of Black Excellence in Anniston, Alabama!
This is the TRUE story of Lucius Livingston Fleming; — the remnants and fragments — of his UNBELIEVABLY INCREDIBLE legacy in Anniston, Alabama.
It is based on years of personal experience with my own parents the late Wilkie and Hattie Lee Peters Clark; my own personal research; and real documentation. If there are no documents to back up my statements, then, I don't mention it in this historical tribute.
I think in every old negro neighborhood, there is this one "hero". He lights a fire in everybody's heart. In Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama. Lucius Fleming was that man. "Lucius" was what I would call a "one-and-only." There was no one else like him. He was the man who ignited a flame for the funeral profession in my daddy's heart that NEVER went out, and most inspired his desire to become a funeral director. As far as Wilkie Clark was concerned, for the time, and place "Lucius" was the "Standard-Bearer" in the funeral business. But OH, how I wish that his story had a happier ending!
YET EVEN as I sit here behind my keyboard and computer screen, calmly reconstructing the story in my head, I already know as plain as day, how it's going to end. It's a TRAGEDY — for me in many ways perhaps more tragic than it may have been for the Fleming family themselves.
It has taken me a very long time -- YEARS! — to piece this story together. Over many years, I've taken bits and pieces of my dad's story (which I know intimately) based on oral history — little things that Daddy told me out of his own mouth — and tried to weave them together in a way that made sense to me. There were often times when none of it made sense. But, once things do start to come together in a logical way, that's when I can write about it with clarity.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
It is based on years of personal experience with my own parents the late Wilkie and Hattie Lee Peters Clark; my own personal research; and real documentation. If there are no documents to back up my statements, then, I don't mention it in this historical tribute.
I think in every old negro neighborhood, there is this one "hero". He lights a fire in everybody's heart. In Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama. Lucius Fleming was that man. "Lucius" was what I would call a "one-and-only." There was no one else like him. He was the man who ignited a flame for the funeral profession in my daddy's heart that NEVER went out, and most inspired his desire to become a funeral director. As far as Wilkie Clark was concerned, for the time, and place "Lucius" was the "Standard-Bearer" in the funeral business. But OH, how I wish that his story had a happier ending!
YET EVEN as I sit here behind my keyboard and computer screen, calmly reconstructing the story in my head, I already know as plain as day, how it's going to end. It's a TRAGEDY — for me in many ways perhaps more tragic than it may have been for the Fleming family themselves.
It has taken me a very long time -- YEARS! — to piece this story together. Over many years, I've taken bits and pieces of my dad's story (which I know intimately) based on oral history — little things that Daddy told me out of his own mouth — and tried to weave them together in a way that made sense to me. There were often times when none of it made sense. But, once things do start to come together in a logical way, that's when I can write about it with clarity.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
Childhood Memories . . .
As a child, the one thing that stands out most clearly is that I LOVED MY DADDY! And (As Far as I was concerned) EVERY WORD THAT CAME OUT OF HIS MOUTH, WAS GOLDEN!! And I was ALWAYS right there — staring him squarely in the face, to hear what was coming out!
Even as far back as my early childhood days, I can remember with extreme clarity, how my father bragged, marveled, and carried on about "Lucius". It was obvious that this is a man he greatly admired. Any time he would start "gushing" and "raving" about his heros, Lucius' name never failed to come up; AND it would be perfectly clear to anybody within ear-shot what Lucius did for a living. He was the "Undertaker" in Anniston, Alabama.
Now, these were the stories that I heard my daddy tell when I was a child — a clear indication that he was quite young and impressed by this young professional black man — perhaps 19 to 20 years his senior. But, it would still be many years later before I even learned that Lucius had a last name, and it was Fleming. Yet, everybody in Anniston, called him "Lucius". And as far as things went with every black family in Anniston, there was no "Undertaker" like Lucius. As a matter of fact, in the eyes of black folks in Anniston, Alabama, I don't think there was NO UNDERTAKER — BUT Lucius.
Everybody referred to his funeral home as "Lucius' Funeral Home. Not by hIs surname, Fleming (as is customary with most businesses). But, they called it "Lucius'" Funeral Home. And that's what HE called it, too. And I believe that sometime or other, I have even seen with my own eyes in an old antique photo, his sign above the front door of his place of business read "LUCIUS" (in all caps formatted in the shape of an arch). I'll probably spend the remainder of my life trying to figure that one out.
I never met Lucius. I never even saw him. So you have to understand how in my mind, I knew him — BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HIM. It was only through my parents eyes, their stories, that I saw him — knew him. And in the mind of a child, how easily he becomes more like this fictitious — animated — cartoonish character. So, over my years, Lucius became kind of a fictitious larger-than-life legend, of sorts.
Only after I got grown; only after more than 56 years in this profession; only after a retrospective look at the struggles of my own family to survive in this profession; only after understanding the historical importance of men like Lucius — and my father; only after taking the time to really put my nose to the grindstone, dig for the records, and do the research, did Lucius become REAL to me. A REAL MAN, who lived in a certain region of this world, and was HUMAN. And truly understand how and why he so affected the thousands of people he touched!
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REFERENCE NOTES: Childhood memories
Even as far back as my early childhood days, I can remember with extreme clarity, how my father bragged, marveled, and carried on about "Lucius". It was obvious that this is a man he greatly admired. Any time he would start "gushing" and "raving" about his heros, Lucius' name never failed to come up; AND it would be perfectly clear to anybody within ear-shot what Lucius did for a living. He was the "Undertaker" in Anniston, Alabama.
Now, these were the stories that I heard my daddy tell when I was a child — a clear indication that he was quite young and impressed by this young professional black man — perhaps 19 to 20 years his senior. But, it would still be many years later before I even learned that Lucius had a last name, and it was Fleming. Yet, everybody in Anniston, called him "Lucius". And as far as things went with every black family in Anniston, there was no "Undertaker" like Lucius. As a matter of fact, in the eyes of black folks in Anniston, Alabama, I don't think there was NO UNDERTAKER — BUT Lucius.
Everybody referred to his funeral home as "Lucius' Funeral Home. Not by hIs surname, Fleming (as is customary with most businesses). But, they called it "Lucius'" Funeral Home. And that's what HE called it, too. And I believe that sometime or other, I have even seen with my own eyes in an old antique photo, his sign above the front door of his place of business read "LUCIUS" (in all caps formatted in the shape of an arch). I'll probably spend the remainder of my life trying to figure that one out.
I never met Lucius. I never even saw him. So you have to understand how in my mind, I knew him — BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HIM. It was only through my parents eyes, their stories, that I saw him — knew him. And in the mind of a child, how easily he becomes more like this fictitious — animated — cartoonish character. So, over my years, Lucius became kind of a fictitious larger-than-life legend, of sorts.
Only after I got grown; only after more than 56 years in this profession; only after a retrospective look at the struggles of my own family to survive in this profession; only after understanding the historical importance of men like Lucius — and my father; only after taking the time to really put my nose to the grindstone, dig for the records, and do the research, did Lucius become REAL to me. A REAL MAN, who lived in a certain region of this world, and was HUMAN. And truly understand how and why he so affected the thousands of people he touched!
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REFERENCE NOTES: Childhood memories
Why Go Down This Rabbit Hole Anyway? The Real Reason . . .
What started me down this rabbit hole, anyway?
It was my many childhood memories of hearing local folks in Roanoke often repeat the "myth" (mistaken belief) and literal untruths about why my daddy wanted to open his own funeral home. People in our community often repeated in an accusatory way that "Wilkie wanted to go in business against Reverend Brown" (who operated the East Roanoke Funeral Home in Roanoke). But, I refuse to let them put that on my daddy. THAT IS EMPHATICALLY NOT TRUE! I don't think daddy could have "cared less" about Reverend J. L. Brown OR East Roanoke Funeral Home. I think in my daddy's view, J. L. Brown wasn't "bird-droppings" in comparison to Lucius Fleming.
NO child who loves their parent, enjoys hearing people in the streets "dis" them in that way. I sure didn't, especially when I knew it was NOT TRUE!
My father loved, adored and doted on Lucius Fleming any and every time his name came up. And it is a fact that this started very early in his adult life. It was his "midnight-dream and all-day study". Brown was nothing more than a local cat who YEARS LATER, lucked up and got a Funeral Home going here (in Roanoke). I'm not so sure how [Maybe I'll research that one day]. It was doggone surely nothing to write home about.
What I know, that others may NOT know is that my daddy was a lofty man with lofty ambitions. Anybody HE admired, did everything "BIG." In a big way. Mesmerizing — overwhelmingly impressive. There was nothing about J. L. Brown that impressed him. Matter of fact, I can still hear my daddy, commenting on the difference between Brown and Lucius in his humorous way: "Lucius is as far ahead of J.L. Brown, as a possum is — an ax handle."
Reverend J. L. Brown was a fat, middle-aged Methodist Preacher, who in addition to having a Funeral Home which HE considered his "side-hustle" he was a hog farmer, and just about every time you saw him, you could see it AND SMELL IT! He often went around in mud-covered overalls, and looked like hog-shit whether you could smell it or not. Now, it is certainly true that daddy — several years younger than Brown — worked alongside Reverend Brown at East Roanoke Funeral Home which was just around the corner from our house.
From our house (in Roanoke), you could walk to East Roanoke Funeral Home in less than 5 minutes. And after daddy got involved with it, he had an intense desire to elevate Reverend Brown's operation. Wanted to "clean up the place", and put a spit-shine on it. But J.L. Brown who wasn't known for being one of the cleanest people in the world — he just wasn't having it. In my father's humble opinion, J. L. Brown wasn't fit to wipe the dust off of Lucius Flemming's shoes.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
Author's Conclusions Drawn Based on personal memories and current information available
It was my many childhood memories of hearing local folks in Roanoke often repeat the "myth" (mistaken belief) and literal untruths about why my daddy wanted to open his own funeral home. People in our community often repeated in an accusatory way that "Wilkie wanted to go in business against Reverend Brown" (who operated the East Roanoke Funeral Home in Roanoke). But, I refuse to let them put that on my daddy. THAT IS EMPHATICALLY NOT TRUE! I don't think daddy could have "cared less" about Reverend J. L. Brown OR East Roanoke Funeral Home. I think in my daddy's view, J. L. Brown wasn't "bird-droppings" in comparison to Lucius Fleming.
NO child who loves their parent, enjoys hearing people in the streets "dis" them in that way. I sure didn't, especially when I knew it was NOT TRUE!
My father loved, adored and doted on Lucius Fleming any and every time his name came up. And it is a fact that this started very early in his adult life. It was his "midnight-dream and all-day study". Brown was nothing more than a local cat who YEARS LATER, lucked up and got a Funeral Home going here (in Roanoke). I'm not so sure how [Maybe I'll research that one day]. It was doggone surely nothing to write home about.
What I know, that others may NOT know is that my daddy was a lofty man with lofty ambitions. Anybody HE admired, did everything "BIG." In a big way. Mesmerizing — overwhelmingly impressive. There was nothing about J. L. Brown that impressed him. Matter of fact, I can still hear my daddy, commenting on the difference between Brown and Lucius in his humorous way: "Lucius is as far ahead of J.L. Brown, as a possum is — an ax handle."
Reverend J. L. Brown was a fat, middle-aged Methodist Preacher, who in addition to having a Funeral Home which HE considered his "side-hustle" he was a hog farmer, and just about every time you saw him, you could see it AND SMELL IT! He often went around in mud-covered overalls, and looked like hog-shit whether you could smell it or not. Now, it is certainly true that daddy — several years younger than Brown — worked alongside Reverend Brown at East Roanoke Funeral Home which was just around the corner from our house.
From our house (in Roanoke), you could walk to East Roanoke Funeral Home in less than 5 minutes. And after daddy got involved with it, he had an intense desire to elevate Reverend Brown's operation. Wanted to "clean up the place", and put a spit-shine on it. But J.L. Brown who wasn't known for being one of the cleanest people in the world — he just wasn't having it. In my father's humble opinion, J. L. Brown wasn't fit to wipe the dust off of Lucius Flemming's shoes.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
Author's Conclusions Drawn Based on personal memories and current information available
Connecting The Dots . . .
So, here's what I have been able to put together. My mother grew up in Anniston, Alabama, and her whole family lived there. They owned property there. Though she had some "loose ties" to Roanoke. She was for all intents and purposes an "Anniston girl". And they all LOVED Anniston — and they damn sure LOVED Lucius. She lived in what was known as South Anniston at 319 "G" Street. [LOOK THAT ONE UP ON A MAP]. Their cousins, the Barrows, lived one block over, at 321 "H" Street. She graduated from "Barbar/Barber Terrace High School" in Anniston. So, when I think about the time-lines — it just makes sense to me. Everything fits. My mother's growing up years, were from 1917 until she married my daddy in1948. Lucius Fleming's heyday started in Anniston around the 1930's and continued up until he died in 1963 at age 62, After Lucius died, his son, Lucius, Jr., continued the funeral home operation until sometime in the mid-1970s. In addition to continuing Lucius Funeral home, Lucius, Jr. was also connected to Talladega College in Talladega. According to his obituary he worked there in the Savary College Library. In 2003, at age 63, Lucius, Jr., died — also suddenly and unexpectedly like his dad.
My father — in his early to mid 20s had come out of the Military in 1944. For a short time thereafter, he, and his siblings, all lived and worked in the Anniston area. Daddy worked at "Bynum" which was what everybody called The Anniston Army Depot in Oxford. In the latter 1940s he was enrolled in a high school program for Veterans at Cobb Avenue High School in Anniston, eventually receiving his high school diploma. Lucius was a member of the Negro Professional and Business Men's Club, which recruited black Vets to this program in Anniston. I'm almost certain it was during this period, that my father and mother met and, got acquainted with each other. Anniston is where they courted, because their marriage license shows they were married at the C.M.E. Parsonage in Anniston. She had attended Alabama A&M, started teaching in Roanoke, and married my father in 1948.
By my daddy working at Bynum, attending the Veterans Class in Anniston, and my mother's family all being situated right there in South Anniston, he was well-exposed to Lucius' Funeral home operation. Lucius was so well-known, well-thought-of, and his name was always coming across somebody's lips, it was just commonplace. Lucius buried my mother's entire family: Her Grandfather, John Clark Peters; Her Mother, Mary Will Peters; although I'm not sure, I would imagine her grandmother, Charlotte Foreman Peters Lindsey; her uncle Ulysses Simpson Peters; her cousins: Moses Barrow, and Doshie Peters Barrow. So my father had actually had numerous opportunities to encounter Lucius. Probably during that time Lucius was one of the few educated blacks in that community; a native of Atlanta, GA; and I'm wagering that because he was from Atlanta, GA, he probably graduated from The Historic Atlanta College of Mortuary Science that operated from 1938 through 1970.
So, it just stands to reason: Lucius migrated to Anniston, ALREADY primed and prepped for business. And from all accounts, he ran a 1st Class Operation. Lucius was known far and wide — certainly all over Alabama.
He had made a name for himself as a formidable undertaker. He was good-looking. clean, and ran a respectable operation. So, EVERY NEGRO IN ANNISTON, ALABAMA LOOKED UP TO HIM.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
This is merely a personal analysis of my thought process, and the very intimate personal concerns that were driving me to dig deeper into Lucius' life. It is obvious to me that for personal reasons of his own, my father was impressed with Lucius, and had a very deep desire to live an influential life similar to Lucius.
My father — in his early to mid 20s had come out of the Military in 1944. For a short time thereafter, he, and his siblings, all lived and worked in the Anniston area. Daddy worked at "Bynum" which was what everybody called The Anniston Army Depot in Oxford. In the latter 1940s he was enrolled in a high school program for Veterans at Cobb Avenue High School in Anniston, eventually receiving his high school diploma. Lucius was a member of the Negro Professional and Business Men's Club, which recruited black Vets to this program in Anniston. I'm almost certain it was during this period, that my father and mother met and, got acquainted with each other. Anniston is where they courted, because their marriage license shows they were married at the C.M.E. Parsonage in Anniston. She had attended Alabama A&M, started teaching in Roanoke, and married my father in 1948.
By my daddy working at Bynum, attending the Veterans Class in Anniston, and my mother's family all being situated right there in South Anniston, he was well-exposed to Lucius' Funeral home operation. Lucius was so well-known, well-thought-of, and his name was always coming across somebody's lips, it was just commonplace. Lucius buried my mother's entire family: Her Grandfather, John Clark Peters; Her Mother, Mary Will Peters; although I'm not sure, I would imagine her grandmother, Charlotte Foreman Peters Lindsey; her uncle Ulysses Simpson Peters; her cousins: Moses Barrow, and Doshie Peters Barrow. So my father had actually had numerous opportunities to encounter Lucius. Probably during that time Lucius was one of the few educated blacks in that community; a native of Atlanta, GA; and I'm wagering that because he was from Atlanta, GA, he probably graduated from The Historic Atlanta College of Mortuary Science that operated from 1938 through 1970.
So, it just stands to reason: Lucius migrated to Anniston, ALREADY primed and prepped for business. And from all accounts, he ran a 1st Class Operation. Lucius was known far and wide — certainly all over Alabama.
He had made a name for himself as a formidable undertaker. He was good-looking. clean, and ran a respectable operation. So, EVERY NEGRO IN ANNISTON, ALABAMA LOOKED UP TO HIM.
_________________________________
REFERENCE NOTES:
This is merely a personal analysis of my thought process, and the very intimate personal concerns that were driving me to dig deeper into Lucius' life. It is obvious to me that for personal reasons of his own, my father was impressed with Lucius, and had a very deep desire to live an influential life similar to Lucius.
What Was Driving My Research?
Just out of morbid curiosity, I have researched Lucius Fleming extensively. As far as I can tell, Lucius Livingston Fleming was born December 9, 1901 and at age 62, died September 4, 1963. Sadly, according documentation found on Ancestry.com, Lucius mother was only 11 years of age when he was born.
Contrary to some sources, he was not a native of Anniston, Alabama. He was born in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia and died in Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama. His parents were Anna Fleming and Joesph Fleming. And according to Ancestry Records, Lucius mother was a mere 11 years of age when he was born.
Lucius married Lucille Burks Fleming and they had 1 (maybe 2) children. Though I am not for certain, from all indications there were very likely two marriages. One to Lucille Burks Fleming, and the other to Rosia Woodward Arnold Fleming. On October 5, 1935, at a young age, Mrs. Lucille Burks Flemming (also a young mother) died. Their only child, a daughter, Helen grew up in Anniston, Alabama, and later relocated to Oakland, California where she raised her family..
Sometime after Lucille's passing, Lucius remarried Rosia Woodward Arnold Fleming . However, locating documentation of his marriage to Rosia has been a challenge.
Lucius' younger son, Lucius Fleming, Jr.'s mother was Rosia Woodward Arnold Fleming. Lucius passed away suddenly on 4 Sept 1963 at Anniston Memorial Hospital, (which we now refer to as North East Regional Medical Center) in Anniston, Calhoun, Alabama.
Judging from my extensive research, the name "Lucius Fleming" was a VERY POPULAR NAME ALL OVER THE Southeastern region of the United States. This made Lucius much harder to research (cause there were so many people with that name!). For the first 30 years of his life, Lucius' family remained in Georgia, but by the 1940's census record reported them to be living in Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama. The 1930 Census shows Lucius Fleming at age 21, in Anniston, Alabama, working for an Undertaking Company as an Embalmer. At this time, Lucius is head of household and married to Lucille, and they have a daughter named Helen. Census questions: Attended School? Answer, NO. 10 years later, in 1940, he is self-employed as an undertaker. His reported income was about $1,300.00, and he owns a home valued at around $3,000.00; so he was making a good bit of money for a young man in his early 30's. By this time he's with the 2nd wife, Rosia.
In 1942, at age 41, Lucius registered for the draft. Observing his draft card registration, he had beautiful penmanship. Again, he indicated that he was self-employed. Living on Constantine in Anniston, and his place of business was on 10th Street. By then, he reported that he had 2 years of college.
By 1948, Lucius Fleming was a well-established Funeral Home proprietor and was actively involved with the Alabama Negro Funeral Directors Association. By 1948, according to black newspapers, The Mobile Beacon and Alabama Citizen, Lucius Fleming of Anniston was active in the Alabama Negro Funeral Directors Association. He was mentioned as Chairman of the Executive Committee for the upcoming meeting planned to convene in Selma, Alabama.
I often wondered if Lucuis attended a mortuary school. I knew of the Historic Atlanta College of Mortuary Science that operated from 1938 through 1970. This was a "Certified Institution for colored people in Mortuary Science." This is the same college that two of my good friends, Sergeant Willie Adams and Mr. Royal D. Cook, had attended — two of Atlanta's oldest and most renowned funeral service practitioners. Adams always spoke of this school with fondness. In my thoughts, Lucius just HAD to have attended this school. And I also stumbled upon another college mentioned, Mr. A.L. Welch, of Welch School Of Embalming, who spoke at one of the Annual Conventions of the Alabama Funeral Directors and Mortician's Association in June of 1939.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
I attempted to follow references made to Lucius' activity in the State Funeral Director's & Mortician's Association
I wanted to understand why he felt the need to participate? What were their goals and direction? How did they originate? In general he carried himself in an impressionable way. He was able to capture public interest. Having been born to an 11-year-old mother, caused me to question how he might have been raised.
Ancestry.com | Census Records | Marriage Records
Contrary to some sources, he was not a native of Anniston, Alabama. He was born in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia and died in Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama. His parents were Anna Fleming and Joesph Fleming. And according to Ancestry Records, Lucius mother was a mere 11 years of age when he was born.
Lucius married Lucille Burks Fleming and they had 1 (maybe 2) children. Though I am not for certain, from all indications there were very likely two marriages. One to Lucille Burks Fleming, and the other to Rosia Woodward Arnold Fleming. On October 5, 1935, at a young age, Mrs. Lucille Burks Flemming (also a young mother) died. Their only child, a daughter, Helen grew up in Anniston, Alabama, and later relocated to Oakland, California where she raised her family..
Sometime after Lucille's passing, Lucius remarried Rosia Woodward Arnold Fleming . However, locating documentation of his marriage to Rosia has been a challenge.
Lucius' younger son, Lucius Fleming, Jr.'s mother was Rosia Woodward Arnold Fleming. Lucius passed away suddenly on 4 Sept 1963 at Anniston Memorial Hospital, (which we now refer to as North East Regional Medical Center) in Anniston, Calhoun, Alabama.
Judging from my extensive research, the name "Lucius Fleming" was a VERY POPULAR NAME ALL OVER THE Southeastern region of the United States. This made Lucius much harder to research (cause there were so many people with that name!). For the first 30 years of his life, Lucius' family remained in Georgia, but by the 1940's census record reported them to be living in Anniston, Calhoun County, Alabama. The 1930 Census shows Lucius Fleming at age 21, in Anniston, Alabama, working for an Undertaking Company as an Embalmer. At this time, Lucius is head of household and married to Lucille, and they have a daughter named Helen. Census questions: Attended School? Answer, NO. 10 years later, in 1940, he is self-employed as an undertaker. His reported income was about $1,300.00, and he owns a home valued at around $3,000.00; so he was making a good bit of money for a young man in his early 30's. By this time he's with the 2nd wife, Rosia.
In 1942, at age 41, Lucius registered for the draft. Observing his draft card registration, he had beautiful penmanship. Again, he indicated that he was self-employed. Living on Constantine in Anniston, and his place of business was on 10th Street. By then, he reported that he had 2 years of college.
By 1948, Lucius Fleming was a well-established Funeral Home proprietor and was actively involved with the Alabama Negro Funeral Directors Association. By 1948, according to black newspapers, The Mobile Beacon and Alabama Citizen, Lucius Fleming of Anniston was active in the Alabama Negro Funeral Directors Association. He was mentioned as Chairman of the Executive Committee for the upcoming meeting planned to convene in Selma, Alabama.
I often wondered if Lucuis attended a mortuary school. I knew of the Historic Atlanta College of Mortuary Science that operated from 1938 through 1970. This was a "Certified Institution for colored people in Mortuary Science." This is the same college that two of my good friends, Sergeant Willie Adams and Mr. Royal D. Cook, had attended — two of Atlanta's oldest and most renowned funeral service practitioners. Adams always spoke of this school with fondness. In my thoughts, Lucius just HAD to have attended this school. And I also stumbled upon another college mentioned, Mr. A.L. Welch, of Welch School Of Embalming, who spoke at one of the Annual Conventions of the Alabama Funeral Directors and Mortician's Association in June of 1939.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
I attempted to follow references made to Lucius' activity in the State Funeral Director's & Mortician's Association
I wanted to understand why he felt the need to participate? What were their goals and direction? How did they originate? In general he carried himself in an impressionable way. He was able to capture public interest. Having been born to an 11-year-old mother, caused me to question how he might have been raised.
Ancestry.com | Census Records | Marriage Records
Summary Of Lucius' Birth and Early Life in Atlanta, Georgia
So, what we CAN say, is that born around the turn of the century, Lucius Livingston Fleming, was a professional Funeral Director and Embalmer who migrated from his hometown in Atlanta, GA to consistently serve the people of Anniston, Alabama for 32 years. Simple mathematics tells us he had started "Lucius Funeral Home" at around 30 years of age.
He was a trained Funeral Director and Embalmer. And for all of that time, ran a respectable operation. He was a proud "tradesman" actively participating in the Alabama Negro Funeral Directors Association and even held the title of "President" and "Chairman of the Executive Committee."
He made good money, and was well able to support himself, because the entire time, his residence address — 1924 Constantine Avenue, Anniston, AL — NEVER changed. His business address remained 123 West 10th Street, Anniston, AL for the entire 32 years. So, for me, was he worthy of my father's admiration? I would say, a WORTHY CHOICE. As far as I can tell, Daddy may not have ever breathed a word to Lucius about his desire to become a Funeral Director. But, it doesn't matter. I have no problem with daddy wanting to be like Lucius. Everybody needs to find their personal inspiration somewhere.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
Author's Conclusions Drawn Based on Current Information
He was a trained Funeral Director and Embalmer. And for all of that time, ran a respectable operation. He was a proud "tradesman" actively participating in the Alabama Negro Funeral Directors Association and even held the title of "President" and "Chairman of the Executive Committee."
He made good money, and was well able to support himself, because the entire time, his residence address — 1924 Constantine Avenue, Anniston, AL — NEVER changed. His business address remained 123 West 10th Street, Anniston, AL for the entire 32 years. So, for me, was he worthy of my father's admiration? I would say, a WORTHY CHOICE. As far as I can tell, Daddy may not have ever breathed a word to Lucius about his desire to become a Funeral Director. But, it doesn't matter. I have no problem with daddy wanting to be like Lucius. Everybody needs to find their personal inspiration somewhere.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
Author's Conclusions Drawn Based on Current Information
Interesting Factual Information About Lucius' Funeral Home
The information that follows consist of a "screen shot" of the alphabetically ordered list of funeral cases completed by Lucius Funeral Home over a three-year period [1938, 1939, and 1940]. I started trying to count the number of cases; but, I gave up just short of 100 and I probably never got past the "B's". The number of deaths he handled was mind-boggling. It causes me to want to know more about many other things: just what kind of an operation he had. How he organized his work, etc.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
This information is taken from the Anniston Public Library, in Anniston, Alabama
Bound copies of these files can be found in The Alabama Room of the Anniston-Calhoun Pubic Library
Note: Once the file opens, click on it to enlarge.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
This information is taken from the Anniston Public Library, in Anniston, Alabama
Bound copies of these files can be found in The Alabama Room of the Anniston-Calhoun Pubic Library
Note: Once the file opens, click on it to enlarge.
September 5, 1963 The Anniston Star Announces Lucius L. Fleming, Sr. Unexpected Passing
(Teaser): Lucius L. Fleming . . . businessman dies
Lucius Fleming Passes at 62
Lucius Livingston Fleming, 62 of 1924 Constantine Ave., a prominent local Negro businessman died unexpectedly at Anniston Memorial Hospital Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
A native of Anniston, he was proprietor and manager of Lucius Funeral Home on West Tenth Street for 32 years. Active in civic affairs, he was a member and trustee of the First Congregational Church, a Mason, Elk and past president of the Alabama Funeral Directors Association.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at noon, at the First Congregational Church with the Reverend Mr. Jackson officiating. Burial will be in Edgemont Cemebery with Lucius Funeral Home in charge.
The body will lie in state at the funeral home until 10:45 am Friday when it will be taken to the church to lie in state until time of services. He is survived by six children: Mrs. Helen Burton, Mrs. Senora Carr, Lucius Fleming, Jr., and Ralph Fleming, all of Anniston, and Mrs. Jean Elliott and Gerald Fleming of Oakland, California.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
Thursday, September 5, 1963 [The Anniston Star] Page 2
Lucius Fleming Passes at 62
Lucius Livingston Fleming, 62 of 1924 Constantine Ave., a prominent local Negro businessman died unexpectedly at Anniston Memorial Hospital Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
A native of Anniston, he was proprietor and manager of Lucius Funeral Home on West Tenth Street for 32 years. Active in civic affairs, he was a member and trustee of the First Congregational Church, a Mason, Elk and past president of the Alabama Funeral Directors Association.
Funeral services will be held Saturday at noon, at the First Congregational Church with the Reverend Mr. Jackson officiating. Burial will be in Edgemont Cemebery with Lucius Funeral Home in charge.
The body will lie in state at the funeral home until 10:45 am Friday when it will be taken to the church to lie in state until time of services. He is survived by six children: Mrs. Helen Burton, Mrs. Senora Carr, Lucius Fleming, Jr., and Ralph Fleming, all of Anniston, and Mrs. Jean Elliott and Gerald Fleming of Oakland, California.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
Thursday, September 5, 1963 [The Anniston Star] Page 2
September 8, 1963 Anniston Star Announces, Lucius L. Fleming, Sr. Funeral Services
Rites Are Held
Funeral services for Lucius Livingston Fleming, 62 of 1924 Constantine Ave., were held Saturday at noon at the First Congregational Church with the Reverend Mr. Jackson officiating.
Burial was in Edgemont Cemetery with Lucius Funeral Home in charge.
The proprietor and manager of Lucius Funeral Home for 32 years, he died unexpectedly Wedesday at Anniston Memorial Hospital.
He is survived by six children, Mrs. Helen Burton, Mrs. Senora Carr, Lucius Fleming, Jr., and Ralph Fleming, all of Anniston, and Mrs. Jean Elliott and Gerald Fleming of Oakland, California.
Active in civic affairs, he was a member and trustee of the First Congregational Church, a Mason, Elk, and past president of the Alabama Funeral Directors Association.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
1963-9-08 [The Anniston Star] Page 28
Funeral services for Lucius Livingston Fleming, 62 of 1924 Constantine Ave., were held Saturday at noon at the First Congregational Church with the Reverend Mr. Jackson officiating.
Burial was in Edgemont Cemetery with Lucius Funeral Home in charge.
The proprietor and manager of Lucius Funeral Home for 32 years, he died unexpectedly Wedesday at Anniston Memorial Hospital.
He is survived by six children, Mrs. Helen Burton, Mrs. Senora Carr, Lucius Fleming, Jr., and Ralph Fleming, all of Anniston, and Mrs. Jean Elliott and Gerald Fleming of Oakland, California.
Active in civic affairs, he was a member and trustee of the First Congregational Church, a Mason, Elk, and past president of the Alabama Funeral Directors Association.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
1963-9-08 [The Anniston Star] Page 28
JUNE 13, 1976 -- Anniston Star Expose' By Tom Gordon (Star Staff Writer) Exposes Lucius Funeral Home Condition
Anniston Funeral Home In Bad Shape
Photo Caption: Police officers check through debris and clutter at Lucius' Funeral Home
This was an entire page of The Anniston Star. With the story plastered all over the page. A full page was devoted to this story.
By TOM GORDON Star Staff Writer
Lucius Funeral Home, once a place where the dead were prepared for burial, is now a rotting, debris-strewn reminder of its past.
The funeral home, at 123 W. 10th Street, was condemned last fall, and Tuesday, became the property of another local funeral home operator, Russell Williams.
William says he hopes to clean up the building and convert it into a display room for coffins and other funeral necessities. Anything he could do would be an improvement, since the building now resembles Edgar Allen Poe's House of Usher — after the fall.
The downstairs and upstairs were recently cluttered with bottles, beer cans, food scraps, pieces of dirty clothing, broken furniture, funeral home equipment, files of paper, and other bits of trash and garbage. On a recent visit, Anniston police found two sets of keys and a book of checks.
MONDAY, the building's floors, ceilings and roof seem to be competing to see which portion had sagged or rotted the most, or which has the most holes.
Despite the padlock on the front, one could easily enter the old building Monday by squeezing through an open rear door or through some broken windows.
Just to the left of the rear entrance was what appeared to have been an embalming room. The room was filled with bottles of embalming fluids and creams, drainage tubes, and other debris.
Also on the floor were two framed certificates — one of them a state embalming certificate, the other, signifying attendance at an embalming school — issued to a member of the Fleming family, which formerly operated the place. On a faded crumbling nearby window still rested the upper plate from a set of dentures.
THE BUILDING also contained several coffins, at least one of which appeared to have been slept in, according to Anniston police. In the upstairs parts of which smell strongly of urine, visitors have used an old bathtub as a toilet, police say.
One of the upstairs rooms, police found, was the living quarters of Ralph Fleming, the 44-year-old brother of Lucius Fleming. Lucius, Fleming, Jr. operated the funeral home until last year, when he ran afoul of federal authorities. The building apparently served as a temporary home for Ralph until Friday, (when Anniston police arrested him on a larceny charge.)
LAST JULY, Lucius Fleming pleaded guilty in federal court in Birmingham to a mail fraud scheme in which he allegedly obtained $10,000 in life insurance benefits belonging to an Anniston area woman. He was sentenced to three years' probation.
Last Sept 15, the funeral home was padlocked by Calhoun County sheriff's deputies, who also took a hearse owned by the funeral home. Sheriff Roy Snead, Jr. said the action was taken because a $10,000 civil judgment had been issued against Fleming in circuit court in connection with the mail fraud scheme.
Snead said his deputies also padlocked the place, because the funeral home owed $467.44 in state, county, and City of Anniston taxes.
Anniston Housing Code Inspector French Rhodes condemned the structure the day after it was padlocked.
Rhodes says the state later sold the building to Williams to meet Fleming's tax obligations. Fleming had until Monday to raise enough funds to repossess the building.
But apparently the only Fleming who repossessed the building was Ralph, who says he is unemployed and has no place to go. "My woman put me out," he says.
RALPH, who knew the Funeral Home in its better days, now sleeps on some mattresses in a dirty clothes-filled upstairs room. He says Lucius, Jr. is working as an undertaker in California.
Members of the Anniston police Special Duty Unit (vice and narcotics) found Ralph in the building about three weeks ago, after a caller to police headquarters said some was taking materials out of the building. (Williams says that in past weeks someone has entered the building and ripped out light fixtures, paneling, telephones and other items.)
Ralph says another man stays in the building and some other men sometimes drink downstairs. "Sometimes I drink with them," he says.
The house is littered with liquor bottles. In one upstairs room an empty bottle lies on the floor next to a blue and white card with the word "Hope" inscribed on it.
WILLIAMS hopes to do something about his building, but he must make some improvements in the next 40 days. If he fails to upgrade or improve the building, the city will seek to have it demolished.
Williams says he plans to padlock the rear door, board up the open windows and talk terms with a contractor. He guesses it will take about $40,000 to repair the building.
"It's going to be a major repair job," he says.
Caption For Other pictures: Exterior of the building on 10th Street.
PART OF STRAY SET OF DENTURES.
_________________________________
REFERENCE NOTES:
Sunday, June 13, 1976 [THE ANNISTON STAR] Page 12A
Photo Caption: Police officers check through debris and clutter at Lucius' Funeral Home
This was an entire page of The Anniston Star. With the story plastered all over the page. A full page was devoted to this story.
By TOM GORDON Star Staff Writer
Lucius Funeral Home, once a place where the dead were prepared for burial, is now a rotting, debris-strewn reminder of its past.
The funeral home, at 123 W. 10th Street, was condemned last fall, and Tuesday, became the property of another local funeral home operator, Russell Williams.
William says he hopes to clean up the building and convert it into a display room for coffins and other funeral necessities. Anything he could do would be an improvement, since the building now resembles Edgar Allen Poe's House of Usher — after the fall.
The downstairs and upstairs were recently cluttered with bottles, beer cans, food scraps, pieces of dirty clothing, broken furniture, funeral home equipment, files of paper, and other bits of trash and garbage. On a recent visit, Anniston police found two sets of keys and a book of checks.
MONDAY, the building's floors, ceilings and roof seem to be competing to see which portion had sagged or rotted the most, or which has the most holes.
Despite the padlock on the front, one could easily enter the old building Monday by squeezing through an open rear door or through some broken windows.
Just to the left of the rear entrance was what appeared to have been an embalming room. The room was filled with bottles of embalming fluids and creams, drainage tubes, and other debris.
Also on the floor were two framed certificates — one of them a state embalming certificate, the other, signifying attendance at an embalming school — issued to a member of the Fleming family, which formerly operated the place. On a faded crumbling nearby window still rested the upper plate from a set of dentures.
THE BUILDING also contained several coffins, at least one of which appeared to have been slept in, according to Anniston police. In the upstairs parts of which smell strongly of urine, visitors have used an old bathtub as a toilet, police say.
One of the upstairs rooms, police found, was the living quarters of Ralph Fleming, the 44-year-old brother of Lucius Fleming. Lucius, Fleming, Jr. operated the funeral home until last year, when he ran afoul of federal authorities. The building apparently served as a temporary home for Ralph until Friday, (when Anniston police arrested him on a larceny charge.)
LAST JULY, Lucius Fleming pleaded guilty in federal court in Birmingham to a mail fraud scheme in which he allegedly obtained $10,000 in life insurance benefits belonging to an Anniston area woman. He was sentenced to three years' probation.
Last Sept 15, the funeral home was padlocked by Calhoun County sheriff's deputies, who also took a hearse owned by the funeral home. Sheriff Roy Snead, Jr. said the action was taken because a $10,000 civil judgment had been issued against Fleming in circuit court in connection with the mail fraud scheme.
Snead said his deputies also padlocked the place, because the funeral home owed $467.44 in state, county, and City of Anniston taxes.
Anniston Housing Code Inspector French Rhodes condemned the structure the day after it was padlocked.
Rhodes says the state later sold the building to Williams to meet Fleming's tax obligations. Fleming had until Monday to raise enough funds to repossess the building.
But apparently the only Fleming who repossessed the building was Ralph, who says he is unemployed and has no place to go. "My woman put me out," he says.
RALPH, who knew the Funeral Home in its better days, now sleeps on some mattresses in a dirty clothes-filled upstairs room. He says Lucius, Jr. is working as an undertaker in California.
Members of the Anniston police Special Duty Unit (vice and narcotics) found Ralph in the building about three weeks ago, after a caller to police headquarters said some was taking materials out of the building. (Williams says that in past weeks someone has entered the building and ripped out light fixtures, paneling, telephones and other items.)
Ralph says another man stays in the building and some other men sometimes drink downstairs. "Sometimes I drink with them," he says.
The house is littered with liquor bottles. In one upstairs room an empty bottle lies on the floor next to a blue and white card with the word "Hope" inscribed on it.
WILLIAMS hopes to do something about his building, but he must make some improvements in the next 40 days. If he fails to upgrade or improve the building, the city will seek to have it demolished.
Williams says he plans to padlock the rear door, board up the open windows and talk terms with a contractor. He guesses it will take about $40,000 to repair the building.
"It's going to be a major repair job," he says.
Caption For Other pictures: Exterior of the building on 10th Street.
PART OF STRAY SET OF DENTURES.
_________________________________
REFERENCE NOTES:
Sunday, June 13, 1976 [THE ANNISTON STAR] Page 12A
2003-4-21 - The Death of Lucius L. Fleming, Jr. "Little Lu"
Lucius Fleming Obituary, Lucius Fleming, Jr.
Having delved so deeply into the Fleming family history, I was totally heartbroken to learn that Mr. Lucius Fleming, Jr. died suddenly on April 21, 2003, at the Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center in Anniston.
Services for Lucius Fleming, Jr., 63, will be held on Friday, April 25, 2003, 12:00 p.m. at First United Presbyterian Church, Anniston, Alabama. Reverend Andrew L. Cooper M.Div., officiating. Burial will be in Eden Hill Cemetery. Lucius was 63, and was born in Anniston.
He was a popular and active student at Calhoun County Training School, where he performed as drum major for the school band.
After service in the U.S. Army, he followed his father in ownership and management of Lucius Funeral Home before moving to Richmond, California, in the mid 1970's, He continued his field of work at Rose Manor Funeral Home in Richmond before returning to Anniston in 1997. Upon his return to Anniston, He became associated with Talladega College as Circulation Assistant at Savery Library, which houses the nationally acclaimed Amistad Murals.
He is survived by a son, Allan Fleming of California and with his two loving sons; a daughter, Cherie Thompson of Anniston and her son, Terry Thompson and her daughter Mariah; his brother, Gerald Fleming of Anniston; his sisters, Jeanne Fleming of California, Senora Van Fleming of California, and Dorries Johnson of Anniston; and many loving nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind a host of dear friends throughout the East Bay and the country. Mr. Fleming was always known and appreciated for his commitment to professionalism.
Pallbearers will be Kelvin Bowers, Joseph Burton, Chad Burton, Lucius Burton, Bryan Carr, Brad Elliott, Jeffery Fleming and Kevin Stewart. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Presbyterian Church, Anniston, Alabama, or to Talladega College, Savery Library, 627 West Battle Street, Talladega, Alabama 35160.
Arrangements entrusted to Anniston Funeral Home, 256-236- 0319
Published by Contra Costa Times on Apr. 24, 2003.
Lucius, Jr.'s guestbook was just overflowing with beautiful, adoring condolences from so many friends and clients that he had served. This part of the obituary review was very heartwarming for me.
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REFERENCE NOTES:
URL: https://www.truepeoplesearch.com
Lucius L Fleming passed away in April 2003 at the age of 63. Lucius was born in February 1940. He lived at 2216 Southland Dr in Anniston, AL from April 2002 until his passing. He was reachable at (256) 820-5432, a landline number through AT&T. [full bio]
Legacy.com
URL: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/eastbaytimes/name/lucius-fleming-obituary?id=27848615
Having delved so deeply into the Fleming family history, I was totally heartbroken to learn that Mr. Lucius Fleming, Jr. died suddenly on April 21, 2003, at the Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center in Anniston.
Services for Lucius Fleming, Jr., 63, will be held on Friday, April 25, 2003, 12:00 p.m. at First United Presbyterian Church, Anniston, Alabama. Reverend Andrew L. Cooper M.Div., officiating. Burial will be in Eden Hill Cemetery. Lucius was 63, and was born in Anniston.
He was a popular and active student at Calhoun County Training School, where he performed as drum major for the school band.
After service in the U.S. Army, he followed his father in ownership and management of Lucius Funeral Home before moving to Richmond, California, in the mid 1970's, He continued his field of work at Rose Manor Funeral Home in Richmond before returning to Anniston in 1997. Upon his return to Anniston, He became associated with Talladega College as Circulation Assistant at Savery Library, which houses the nationally acclaimed Amistad Murals.
He is survived by a son, Allan Fleming of California and with his two loving sons; a daughter, Cherie Thompson of Anniston and her son, Terry Thompson and her daughter Mariah; his brother, Gerald Fleming of Anniston; his sisters, Jeanne Fleming of California, Senora Van Fleming of California, and Dorries Johnson of Anniston; and many loving nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind a host of dear friends throughout the East Bay and the country. Mr. Fleming was always known and appreciated for his commitment to professionalism.
Pallbearers will be Kelvin Bowers, Joseph Burton, Chad Burton, Lucius Burton, Bryan Carr, Brad Elliott, Jeffery Fleming and Kevin Stewart. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Presbyterian Church, Anniston, Alabama, or to Talladega College, Savery Library, 627 West Battle Street, Talladega, Alabama 35160.
Arrangements entrusted to Anniston Funeral Home, 256-236- 0319
Published by Contra Costa Times on Apr. 24, 2003.
Lucius, Jr.'s guestbook was just overflowing with beautiful, adoring condolences from so many friends and clients that he had served. This part of the obituary review was very heartwarming for me.
________________________________________
REFERENCE NOTES:
URL: https://www.truepeoplesearch.com
Lucius L Fleming passed away in April 2003 at the age of 63. Lucius was born in February 1940. He lived at 2216 Southland Dr in Anniston, AL from April 2002 until his passing. He was reachable at (256) 820-5432, a landline number through AT&T. [full bio]
Legacy.com
URL: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/eastbaytimes/name/lucius-fleming-obituary?id=27848615
The Question Begs To Be Answered:
More Than 100 Years After Lucius . . .
Why are Contemporary Black Funeral Homes still facing the Same Barriers to Success?
You can bet your last money that:
Any time a group of black folks/Negroes — feel moved to organize themselves — there are compelling reasons to do it. In my experience, we as African Americans are a peaceful type of people. In general, we LOVE peace, fun, good times, good friends, lighthearted interactions. WE JUST DO! WE DON'T WANT NO TROUBLE! That is just who we are. By nature, we just don't want to agitate.
BUT, it never ceases to amaze me that no matter what time period we are operating in, we as African American people seem to encounter difficulties, that no other groups encounter. The more uncompromising the issue, the stronger we come to accept the fact that "collectively" we have to work together, or organize ourselves, so as to summon our collective strength to break down the barriers that we face.
All of that to say this: During the early years of the 20th Century, when more and more black men — like Lucius Fleming — were coming of age, black citizens seemed to sense a need to organize for a number of reasons — ALL RELATED TO THEIR QUEST FOR SOCIAL PROGRESS, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, ECONOMIC FREEDOM, POLITICAL ADVANCEMENT, GENERAL FAIRNESS, OR MERELY THE SIMPLE ENJOYMENT OF LIFE. As I took this long look back over time, it occurred to me that it was during this time, that the long-running N.A.A.C.P. was organized (1909). It was also during these early years of the 1900s that great black organizations such as "The Divine Nine," Masonic and Elk Lodges, began to appear. It also seemed that regardless of what type of group was invoked, or what purpose was being served, there always seemd to be a strong spirit and sense of interdependence across all groups of Negroes.
The National Negro Business League (NNBL)
Ironically, Dr. Booker T. Washington organized the National Negro Business League (NNBL) in 1900. The organization was initially established to promote economic development and self-reliance within the African American community. It later expanded to include chapters across the United States and fostered collaboration between Black and white businesses.
The National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP-1909)
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded 115 years ago, in New York City, NY, on February 12, 1909.
The National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. (NFDMA-1924)
The National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. (NFDMA) was originally organized in 1924 as the Independent National Funeral Directors Association. It was founded by a group of licensed funeral directors seeking to elevate professional standards within the industry and serve the public and their businesses. The organization initially collaborated with the National Business League, but eventually formed its own independent association to focus solely on the funeral service profession.
The Alabama Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. (AFDMA) was organized in the mid-1920s.
The Alabama Funeral Directors and Morticians Association (AFDMA) was organized in the mid-1920s. It was initially established to address the specific needs of Black funeral directors and the Black community. The organization was initially named the Alabama Colored Funeral Directors and Embalmers.
(Note) Lucius Fleming's obituary mentions that he served as State President when the Association operated under the name, Alabama Funeral Directors Association (AFDA). His name still appears in the official history of the Alabama Funeral Directors and Morticians Association.
Here is a video from 2024, by the National President of the NFDMA, that I believe to be appropriate and informative at this point in the discussion.
Any time a group of black folks/Negroes — feel moved to organize themselves — there are compelling reasons to do it. In my experience, we as African Americans are a peaceful type of people. In general, we LOVE peace, fun, good times, good friends, lighthearted interactions. WE JUST DO! WE DON'T WANT NO TROUBLE! That is just who we are. By nature, we just don't want to agitate.
BUT, it never ceases to amaze me that no matter what time period we are operating in, we as African American people seem to encounter difficulties, that no other groups encounter. The more uncompromising the issue, the stronger we come to accept the fact that "collectively" we have to work together, or organize ourselves, so as to summon our collective strength to break down the barriers that we face.
All of that to say this: During the early years of the 20th Century, when more and more black men — like Lucius Fleming — were coming of age, black citizens seemed to sense a need to organize for a number of reasons — ALL RELATED TO THEIR QUEST FOR SOCIAL PROGRESS, EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, ECONOMIC FREEDOM, POLITICAL ADVANCEMENT, GENERAL FAIRNESS, OR MERELY THE SIMPLE ENJOYMENT OF LIFE. As I took this long look back over time, it occurred to me that it was during this time, that the long-running N.A.A.C.P. was organized (1909). It was also during these early years of the 1900s that great black organizations such as "The Divine Nine," Masonic and Elk Lodges, began to appear. It also seemed that regardless of what type of group was invoked, or what purpose was being served, there always seemd to be a strong spirit and sense of interdependence across all groups of Negroes.
The National Negro Business League (NNBL)
Ironically, Dr. Booker T. Washington organized the National Negro Business League (NNBL) in 1900. The organization was initially established to promote economic development and self-reliance within the African American community. It later expanded to include chapters across the United States and fostered collaboration between Black and white businesses.
The National Association For The Advancement Of Colored People (NAACP-1909)
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded 115 years ago, in New York City, NY, on February 12, 1909.
The National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. (NFDMA-1924)
The National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. (NFDMA) was originally organized in 1924 as the Independent National Funeral Directors Association. It was founded by a group of licensed funeral directors seeking to elevate professional standards within the industry and serve the public and their businesses. The organization initially collaborated with the National Business League, but eventually formed its own independent association to focus solely on the funeral service profession.
The Alabama Funeral Directors and Morticians Association, Inc. (AFDMA) was organized in the mid-1920s.
The Alabama Funeral Directors and Morticians Association (AFDMA) was organized in the mid-1920s. It was initially established to address the specific needs of Black funeral directors and the Black community. The organization was initially named the Alabama Colored Funeral Directors and Embalmers.
(Note) Lucius Fleming's obituary mentions that he served as State President when the Association operated under the name, Alabama Funeral Directors Association (AFDA). His name still appears in the official history of the Alabama Funeral Directors and Morticians Association.
Here is a video from 2024, by the National President of the NFDMA, that I believe to be appropriate and informative at this point in the discussion.
Mid 1920s: The National Funeral Directors and Morticians Association is Organized.
About 5 years before Lucius opened Lucius Funeral Home, The NFDMA was organizing its national association for the benefit of Black funeral professionals and communities. About this same time, Alabama funeral directors were organizing too. They used larger newspaper publications such as The Birmingham News and Black Newspaper publications like The Chicago Defender to advertise meetings and attract members. The Birmingham News article is from 1929, and reported "Negro Undertakers meet in Tuscaloosa, Alabama." This meeting would be held at Zion Church in Tuscaloosa."
We must bear in mind that times were very difficult during these years, because black professionals did not have the benefit of reserving the "Five-Star Hotels" and larger venues to host meetings. Often the meetings were hosted in private homes and local churches in the city where the meetings were being held. The 1930 Chicago Defender article reported on the Birmingham Area Funeral Directors, who were comprised of a much larger group of professionals — yet meeting in the home of one of the members.
We must bear in mind that times were very difficult during these years, because black professionals did not have the benefit of reserving the "Five-Star Hotels" and larger venues to host meetings. Often the meetings were hosted in private homes and local churches in the city where the meetings were being held. The 1930 Chicago Defender article reported on the Birmingham Area Funeral Directors, who were comprised of a much larger group of professionals — yet meeting in the home of one of the members.
December 2, 1975
Twelve (12) years after the death of Lucius L. Fleming, finally, the Birmingham Post Herald, an Alabama Newspaper announced the formation of the Alabama Board of Funeral Services, which still exists today. The Birmingham Post Herald announced the formation of the Alabama Board Of Funeral Services, a seven-member board appointed by Governor George Wallace, sworn in Monday at the Birmingham Hyatt House. Pictured in the article is Mr. T.J. Gardner, general manager of Smith & Gaston Funeral Home, sworn in by Attorney Donald B. Sweeney, Jr. while Dr. A.G. Gaston (center) looks on.
A decision clearly influenced by the involvement of Organized Black Professionals in the Alabama Funeral Directors and Mortician's Association, it took YEARS for this long-hoped-for public regulating body to come to fruition.
Twelve (12) years after the death of Lucius L. Fleming, finally, the Birmingham Post Herald, an Alabama Newspaper announced the formation of the Alabama Board of Funeral Services, which still exists today. The Birmingham Post Herald announced the formation of the Alabama Board Of Funeral Services, a seven-member board appointed by Governor George Wallace, sworn in Monday at the Birmingham Hyatt House. Pictured in the article is Mr. T.J. Gardner, general manager of Smith & Gaston Funeral Home, sworn in by Attorney Donald B. Sweeney, Jr. while Dr. A.G. Gaston (center) looks on.
A decision clearly influenced by the involvement of Organized Black Professionals in the Alabama Funeral Directors and Mortician's Association, it took YEARS for this long-hoped-for public regulating body to come to fruition.