R. S. Lewis Funeral Home
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Funeral services |
| Founded | 1914 |
| Founder | Robert Lewis Sr. |
| Headquarters | Memphis, Tennessee , United States |
Key people | Robert Lewis Jr., Clarence Lewis, Andre Jones, Richard Flowers, Tyrone Burroughs |
| Products | Funeral services |
R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home has been a continuous presence in downtown Memphis, Tennessee since its establishment in 1914, providing services to numerous distinguished African-American figures, including Benjamin Hooks and Martin Luther King Jr.. The Lewis family is widely acknowledged for their impactful role in civic leadership.
Civic leadership
The funeral home was founded by Robert Lewis Sr. in 1914 at the corner of Beale and Fourth Street. In 1922, he acquired the Memphis Red Sox, a team in the Negro leagues, and funded the construction of Martin Stadium, also called "Lewis Park." Due to segregation policies at Memphis hotels, visiting teams were frequently accommodated at the funeral home itself.
Leadership passed to his sons Clarence Lewis and Robert Lewis Jr., with Robert Jr. emerging as a prominent figure in Memphis business circles. His achievements encompassed aiding the creation of T. O. Fuller State Park, championing the hiring of the city’s first African-American firefighters in 1955, becoming the inaugural African-American member of the Alcohol Beverage Commission, and initiating the Cotton Makers Jubilee.
Martin Luther King Jr.
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis. During his stay, the Lewis Funeral Home provided a chauffeur-driven limousine operated by Solomon Jones, who was among the last individuals to converse with King and who attempted unsuccessfully to apprehend the assailant.
Following the shooting, King was transported to St. Joseph's Hospital where he was declared dead at 7:05 p.m. His remains were subsequently taken to the Chief Medical Examiner’s office for an autopsy before being transferred to R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home. Despite extensive damage from both the gunshot and autopsy, Robert Lewis Jr. and Clarence Lewis prepared King’s body overnight. Ralph Abernathy remarked that King appeared flawless, attributing this to the morticians’ expert care.
King’s main wake occurred on April 5 at the funeral home’s chapel, attracting thousands of attendees. Afterwards, his casket was flown to Atlanta for further memorial services co-managed by R.S. Lewis & Sons.
Change of ownership
Robert Lewis Jr. remained director until his passing in 2011. Subsequently, management was handled by Andre Jones and Richard Flowers until Tyrone Burroughs acquired the funeral home in 2012, revitalizing its operations and strengthening its market position.
Historic plaque
In celebration of its centennial anniversary in 2014, the Shelby County Historical Commission awarded R.S. Lewis Funeral Home a historic plaque recognizing its longstanding significance.