Downtown Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home
Photographed By Steve Masler, August 25, 2017
1. R.S Lewis & Sons Funeral Home Marker
Founded in 1914 by Robert Stevenson Lewis Sr. and later operated by sons Robert Jr. and Clarence, the family business became committed to improving the quality of life for African-Americans in the community. Among their achievements, in the 1920s Robert Sr. owned baseball's Negro American League Memphis Red Sox and financed Martin Stadium. also called Lewis Park. In the 1950s Robert Jr. helped establish T.O. Fuller State Park, one of the first state parks open to African-Americans. In 1968 when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated at the nearby Lorraine Motel, Robert Jr. was asked by King's aides to prepare and restore Dr. King's body, which lay in state at R.S. Lewis & Sons. Hundreds gathered for the viewing and memorial service for the civil rights legend.
Erected 2014 by R.S. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home and Shelby County Historical Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Charity & Public Work • Civil Rights. A significant historical year for this entry is 1914.
Location. 35° 8.118′ N, 90° 2.962′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. Marker is on Vance Avenue, 0 miles east of 4th, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Clayborn Temple (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Universal Life Insurance Building / Universal Life Insurance Company (approx. ¼ mile away); The Memphis Home of W.C. Handy (approx. ¼ mile away); Church Park Auditorium (approx. ¼ mile away); This Plaque is Dedicated to Father and Son, Leaders of Their Race (approx. ¼ mile away); Sara Roberta Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Church Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Mary Church Terrell (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.
Photographed By Steve Masler, August 25, 2017
2. R.S Lewis & Sons Funeral Home Marker
Photographed By Steve Masler, August 25, 2017
3. R.S Lewis & Sons Funeral Home
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2017, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 472 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 26, 2017, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
