New Pathways in Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

T. H. Hayes and Sons Funeral Home

Photographed by Steve Masler, September 24, 2015

1. T. H. Hayes and Sons Funeral Home Marker

Inscription. Founded in 1902 by Thomas H. Hayes, Sr., T.H. Hayes and Sons Funeral Home is Memphis' oldest black business. Originally on Poplar, the business moved to Lauderdale in 1918. Hayes was active in the National Negro Business League founded by Booker T. Washington. In 1933, he was a co-founder of Union Protective Life Insurance Co. A son, Thomas, Jr., owned the Birmingham Black Barons, of which Willie Mays was a member. Taylor, another son, was president of the National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 4E 127.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1902.

Location. 35° 7.733′ N, 90° 2.66′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in New Pathways. It is at the intersection of Lauderdale and Mississippi Boulevard, on the right on Lauderdale. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Memphis TN 38126, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: First Baptist Church, Lauderdale (a few steps from this marker); Booker T. Washington High School (about

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400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lucie Eddie Campbell (about 500 feet away); Martin Stadium (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Mount Nebo Baptist Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); St. John Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); Owen College (approx. half a mile away); R.S. Lewis & Sons Funeral Home (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

More about this marker. In July of 2011, T. H. Hayes Funeral Home was demolished despite efforts of conservationists to save it. The site is now a vacant lot.

Also see . . . Crews Demolish Hayes Funeral Home — Oldest African-American Business in Memphis. (Submitted on September 25, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Steve Masler, September 24, 2015

2. T. H. Hayes and Sons Funeral Home Marker

T. H. Hayes and Sons Funeral Home Marker and former site, now vacant image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Masler, September 24, 2015

3. T. H. Hayes and Sons Funeral Home Marker and former site, now vacant

Stained Glass Window from the T. H. Hayes and Sons Funeral Home image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Steve Masler, April 23, 2015

4. Stained Glass Window from the T. H. Hayes and Sons Funeral Home

Now in the collections of The Memphis Pink Palace Museum www.memphismuseums.org.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 25, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,110 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 25, 2015, by Steve Masler of Memphis, Tennessee. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.