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Farming For A Better Future, page 188
UNDERTAKERS
Fielder O B, 323 N Court
Morrison Z P & Son, 112 E Tennessee
♦Terry H M O, 314 E Limestone
Thompson & Son Funeral Home was first established in 1920 in Tuscumbia by Bruce Thompson and Tim Ricks. However, Mr. Ricks left the endeavor by 1922 and Thompson's son, Bruce, Jr. followed in his father's footsteps. Bruce, Jr. attended Worsham College of Embalming in Chicago. Upon graduating, he became the “first college-trained embalmer and funeral director [of color] in North Alabama” and went into business with his father. Bruce, Sr. passed away about 1960, and in 1962, Mrs. Thompson and Bruce, Jr. opened a second location in
Florence on Poplar Street. The business was sold in 1982 to the current owners, Col. Arthur D. Graves and wife, Ms. Jean Long Graves.
The research done on Florence's African American professionals touches on only a few of the people and professions of the turn of the 20th century. There are undoubtedly more people of color that operated and owned businesses in the area over the decades. A close examination of city directories cross-referenced with the census and other resources could yield more information on the individuals named here as well as others.
UMBRELLA REPAIRERS
Fago Frederick, 515 E Tennessee
UNDERTAKERS
Fielder O R, 528 E Tombigbee
Morrison Z P & Son, 123 E Tombigbee *Terry H M O, 319 E Alabama
H.
AUSTIN & CO. Electrical Coitractors fePealBn
ELECTRICAL SUPPLIES AND APPLIANCES EDISON MAZDA LAMPS
Phone*: Office 685; Residence 148. 113 Ea#t Alabama St
FLORENCE, ALA.
(Top Left) Excerpt of 1913 Florence City Directory for Undertakers - People of Color, such as Mr. Terry, are Denoted by * (Ancestry.com, U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995) (Left) Excerpt of 1920 Florence City Directory for Undertakers - People of Color, such as Mr. Terry, are Denoted by * (Ancestry.com, U.S. City Directories, 18221995) (Below) 1920 Census Record for Henry M. O. Terry (National Archives and Records Administration via Ancestry.com) (Below Middle) 1930 Census Record for Henry M. O. Terry (National Archives and Records Administration via Ancestry.com) (Bottom) 1910 Census Record for Henry M. O. Terry (National Archives and Records Administration via Ancestry.com) - (4716)