The owners recently marked the 100th anniversary of what they say is the oldest family owned African-American business in San Antonio.

Click on image to read full article.

A centennial is a rare occurrence for a black-owned mortuary, said Gregory Burrell, vice president of the National Association of Funeral Directors and Morticians.

“It’s a milestone for any black business to be around for 100 years and still be viable,” said Burrell, who runs the Terry Funeral Home in Philadelphia. “That’s the kind of succession plan we’d like to see in the African-American community.”

Much has changed since the era when funeral homes were almost as key an institution as churches in black neighborhoods. A funeral cost $20. Cremations were rare. Hearses were horse-drawn. Today a funeral at Lewis costs between $3,500 and $5,000, and it performs up to 60 cremations a year.

Lewis’ business not only grew as it moved to locations on North Center and South Hackberry streets, it also weathered the wave of corporate buyouts of smaller funeral homes in the 1990s and the migration of East Side clients across the city.

In 1999 the funeral home moved to a two-story building at 811 South W.W. White Road, where more than 20 employees provide a wide range of services to the bereaved.

Related posts:

1. Shaquille O’Neal pays for North Carolina girl’s funeral Authorities believe the child, Shaniya Davis, was kidnapped, raped and...
2. Ad Pioneer Examines Blacks’ Inferiority Complex Tom Burrell understands the power of the media. The marketing...
3. South Africa marks 50th anniversary of massacre South Africans gathered in Sharpeville Sunday, commemorating the 50th anniversary...
4. NCCU marks 100 years North Carolina Central University marked its centennial Saturday evening with...
5. How To Set Up 2 Home Pages (Including TodaysDrum.com) Some of you are die hards. You visit us everyday...