Death, and saying farewell to loved ones, has long been an integral part of our culture. In the African American community, our burial traditions, customs, mourning practices and service rites can be traced back to roots in Africa. Forms of these traditions have been passed down from generation to generation and are still proudly practiced by African American families today.
An important aspect of those traditions is the way in which we view death itself. It is not a subject to be avoided but to be embraced. Loved ones are mourned fervently and missed deeply, but also joyously remembered with equal fervor and emotion. Death is a time of sadness, but it is also a time to rejoice and to celebrate the life of the deceased.
It is a time, when not only immediate family members come together, but every relative and friend of the deceased to take part and share in the rituals that are so important in the healing process. There are countless ways, both historic and present day, that we can pay tribute, and we are here to help you create the final services that will honor and preserve your loved one’s memory forever.