Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 21 May 2004 — Page 2

PAGE A2

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, MAY 21, 2004

FUNERAL ► Continued from Page 1 funeral home in Indianapolis to Boatright said he was able to ar- of his company’s reputation of offer such accommodations and range for 800 chairs, a 40 by 80 restoring a life-like appearance his innovation is now being cop- foot tent at the church, a special- to relatives who have died in unied by larger companies. order horse drawn carriage and usual circumstances such as Marvin L. Boatright, director 10 screen televisions for visitors shootings and car accidents. This of the funeral home that bears in a matter of days. During an- enables a family to actually see a his name at 2701 N. California othersemce, he said, the funeral victim for one last time. St., said his family has always home saved a family money by “Many will tell you that there prided themselves on going be- going down to Mississippi to pick have been a number of families yond the call of duty to ensure up a 400 pound accident victim who thought the casket could not that families are more than satis- instead of insisting on the family be opened because of what may fied with the service they receive, using an airline, which would have caused the death, Boatright During the 1995 funeral of Rev. have led to huge cargo costs. said. “But through talent and Arthur Johnson, former pastor In addition many families have God-given skill I have created a of Friendship Baptist Church, placedfaithinBoatrightbecau.se nameformyselfindividuallyasa

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good embalmer and restorative on maintaining a high standard of tablishment that puts what many artist. My father always said ifyou services for over 50 years. see as cosmetic gimmicks aside in doing everything right in the back “My father always said that we an effort to maintain a linear foroom, then the family will pleased have to be able to sleep at night,” cus on properly serving families up front in the chapel.” said Mara Stuart, daughter of in their time of need. Boatright will be moving his Stuart Mortuary co-founder, the “We strive to do one thing exfamily’s business back to its origi- late Charles E.Q, Stuart. “So there- tremely well- providing superior, nalfacilityat2l63N. Illinois St. in fore we have always prided our- premium service for those who July. selves on the merchandise we of- place their trust in us,” Ellis said. Lavenia, Smith and Summers fer to the families. The quality of “Our goal is to serve families the Home for Funerals at 5811 E. 38 th ourservicesspeaksforthemselves. way they want and need to be St. has gained acclaim for their From a personal perspective this served.” dove release program at graveside is a calling for us, notjust a means Jeffery Perkins, who opened services. The most popular ver- to make money. We are very Mahogany Funeral Parlor a little sion takes place after the commit- blessed to have a staff of funeral over a year ago after 12 years of tal during which three doves, rep- directors who have a heart for serv- working for other funeral homes, resenting the Holy Trinity are re- ing, regardless of the long hours hopes to attract families looking leased into the sky, circling the and emotional trauma that is of- for a special, unique experience grave once. A final dove repre- ten associated with this business.” as they bid their final farewell to senting the spirit of the departed Williams and Bluitt Funeral loved ones. Some clients who have personjoins the previous three in Home at 2451 Dr. Andrew J. visited the 98-year-old building flight, circling the grave three Brown Ave., which is one of the at 2215 W. 16 th St. have remarked times before flying into the heav- more thriving Black businesses of that attending a service at Maens. its kind in the city, has been reach- hogany is like stepping back in “The dove release program has ing out to Hispanic families, con- time to a classic funeral from the been a tremendous blessing that ducted a massive refurbishment 1940s or ‘50s, hence the fact that the Lord has inspired us to do,” of its chapel and has, in addition it is called a funeral parlor instead said Emanuel C. Smith of Lavenia, to their already impressive fleet of of a funeral home. Smith and Summers. “It’s just cars, ordered a new flower car to Perkins said some people beautiful and really adds closure better serve and offer more vari- might call his style old fashioned, to the service.” ety to families. but wants to ensure that family In addition, the funeral home Local families have also been members have all the time and offers scholarships for students, keeping their eyes on two rela- personalization they need to cornoffers a Bible to each family it tively new additions to the funeral pletely celebrate a life, instead of serves and has a fleet of gold Lin- service industry in Indianapolis - trying to be extremely efficient coin funeral cars that remain Ellis Mortuary and Mahogany and ushering a family out of the unique in Indianapolis. During Funeral Parlor. parlor. this year’s Indiana Black Expo, Ellis Mortuary is located at 1503 “With us there is no such thing Livenia, Smith and Summers will Columbia Ave. inside a facility as a standard funeral, and we bealso host a booth that will offer once owned by the legendary King Heve each service must be as helpful information about funeral and King Funeral Home, which unique as the person it honors,” pre-planning arrangements. went out of business during the Perkins stated. “With this type of Stuart Mortuary at 2201N. II- 1980s. Darryl Ellis, who arrived parlor we are able to give much linois St. has placed an emphasis on the scene in 2000, has an es- more attention to detail.”

BUCK LEADERS ADVISE KERRY AIDES

Campaign officials agree Co regular visils and ads that will target African Americans.

By JEFFREY McMURR AY phone, and Kerry himself expects to participate about every two WASH INGTON(AP) —Black weeks. The campaign also anlawmakers from key battleground nounced the hiring of Broderick states have told John Kerry’s top Johnson, a former vice president aides that he must follow Bill of congressional relations for Clinton’s lead and give Blacks a AT&T Corp., who will become reason to vote for him rather than Kerry’s congressional liaison, just against President Bush. Besides the commitment to Participants in the 90-minute regular meetings, the campaign strategy session said it was de- agreed to major newspaper, radio signed to hammer out some spe- and television ad buys targeting cifics stemming from the Demo- Blacks in a handful of toss-up cratic presidential candidate’s states, including Ohio, Michigan, commitment two months ago to Louisiana and Missouri, regularly seek advice from the “As the momentum is shifting, Congressional Black Caucus. it’s not enough that it’s just away Campaign manager Mary Beth from Bush. We’ve got to make Cahill and chief communications sure at the same time we’re pickstrategist Bob Shrum agreed to ing up momentum and people visit with them weekly, at least by are saying, ‘I want Kerry, 1 ” said

CBC Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md. Rep. Gregoiy Meeks, D-N.Y., called the meeting, attended by 14 Black lawmakers - most from battleground states. Although Meeks said most key issues are of interest to both Blacks and swing voters, it is important to target Black communities in ad campaigns to help mobilize the Democratic vote. “You can’t win Michigan without winning Detroit,” said Meeks. Although Cummings has predicted a record Black turnout for Kerry in November, some Black lawmakers have expressed disappointment with aspects of his campaign, including a shortage of Blacks in key campaign leadership roles.

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