Transcription
Throughout this walk with me series, we've seen how places such as the old city hall have been transformed into modern living spaces. I even got to climb to the bell tower.
As I've walked around town, though, I've passed some historic Africanamean sites. And this time, I stopped at one of the longestr running black businesses in Rochester, Latimer Funeral Home. Walk with me.
Hi, Molina. Thank you for agreeing to allow us to walk through this historic building, historic business. I thought it would be cool that we start out here because this is where families actually you greet families from this point.
Yes, this is one of the entrances that families use all the time and um we just, you know, welcome them in. This is like their first introduction to Vladimir Funeral Home.
Yeah. Some of them it's not their first because we have buried many people and their families in the past. So, um, but this is this is one of the first instructions for a lot of people. It's a familiar site in Rochester in a familiar neighborhood. We're right along Plymouth Avenue. Um, do folks usually gather here? You don't see porches like this much anymore.
No, you do not. And I always like when I show when people do come in here, I show them the the ceiling here because this woodwork is absolutely beautiful. And you don't see anything like this anymore. Yeah. But usually they don't gather here, but they did during co.
Okay. This was the way my mom would meet with families. We had a chair out here. They would sit on the other side of this glass. She would open the blind and she would sit inside and she would meet with them. And they, you know, we all had cell phones, so they talked over the phone and that was a way of keeping her and them safe.
Yeah. Yeah. Everybody was finding a way to to improvise during that time period, right? Yeah. All right. Well, let's go inside. Take a look. Lot of history here.
Yes. I mean, the doors, love the detail. So, this is a foyer. Like I said, this house has seen many families over the years, including our own.
We actually my grandparents lived up there. Oh, wow. When they moved here in the 1960s. Okay. And I now live up there myself.
All right. And so I don't we don't have to go to your living quarters, but are we okay to just go up to this second floor level?
Original stairs. Yes. Yes. Yes. You can tell. Yes, it is.
Man, you know what they say? how they say if the if these walls could talk, right? Yes.
And this is my um service/comfort animal in training. Oh, that's Luna, but she is a very hyper black lab, so we won't get her excited.
Yes, exactly. Tell us tell me about the the window here.
This stained glass. I mean, this has been here ever since I was alive. I mean, when I used to come up here um and visit with my grandparents when I was little, I would, you know, sit here and just color or whatever. And I actually used to play I used to take naps on the sofa.
Oh, wow. That I still have that was my grandmother's. Oh my goodness. So, but lots of wonderful memories.
This was actually my father's office and my grandfather's. There is my grandfather and my grandmother. So they are the founders in 1922. And then we have pictures of family on the walls here.
Point out, tell us their name. So this is Millard Latimer, Senior. And then that's Lydia Latimer. And so my grandfather actually was the first African-Amean man to graduate from Simmons or it was actually Syracuse School of Bombing at the time. Okay.
So, that's his picture right there. But if you can see, there's three women. So, in 1922, three women were in school to be bombers. Yeah.
Yes. A lot of women still holding it down, right? Yes. Exactly. But your grandfather that must be very proud of that accomplishment.
Absolutely. Yes. Yeah. This is the first building um on Bay Street. He opened up with um Walter Meyers, was it? Come on. And then they moved to Kursa Street here, 179 Kursa Street. Uhhuh. And then in the 60s when they built 490, they moved to our now location of 983 South Plymouth Avenue. And this is before we built the addition, which I'll show you.
Okay. Yeah, I can see. My grandmother, she became an undertaker, so she couldn't inbomb, but um she could do services.
Part of the business. Yes. Yes. Yes.
Mrs. Latimer, I don't want to not include you cuz you're here, but I know we were going to talk to you in a little bit, but it's really good to see you and I can't wait to hear your gorgeous face. We can't wait to sit and chat with you about all of the history that's here and that you've witnessed over a hundred years.
Yeah. Yeah. 104 years this year.
So this one here is my father's graduating class of Worsham College in Chicago, Illinois. Illinois. And that's his picture right there.
Oh, handsome. So, and those are my father's diplomas. Okay. And then this is my father's and my grandfather's and my father's.
Your grandfather's here. Your grandfather? Yes. We're going to get to your papers. Yes. Can't wait.
Yeah. And so in this room, this is where we do um our like the register books and um we give everybody a Bible at services. Um so this is kind of behind the scenes. This is a behind the scenes kind of work done, right? There's some work that's done to this room, but this is actually the National Negro Funeral Director's Association convention in Atlantic City, 1946.
Wow. And so here's my grandmother. Look at that. And my grandfather right here. Look at all these people.
Yes. And they look so good. Look how they dress.
I know. I mean, people don't dress like that anymore. It's like Yeah. They I mean, the men had their hats. I think these are twins cuz it's like at the end they're right. They look like bookend.
They sure do. They sure do. At least siblings if not. Exactly. Yeah. Yeah.
What's what's um fascinating is is how your grandparents were able to take this home and turn it into a business, which a lot of people did back in the day and they still do. But you're walking through and there's these wide spans of places which I'm sure we'll see as we continue to go on.
And um speaking of home, um my grandparents, like I said, they lived upstairs, but they actually used to rent space here. Like they were in the Green Book. So if you remember the movie um The Green Book where, you know, African-Amean people didn't know where they was safe for them to to lay their head at night, right? So here at um Plymouth Avenue and also at Corissa, they were in the green book. So
Wow. I did not know that. Yes. Yeah. I didn't know it until I actually went to a presentation about that and um I saw it. You discovered that and I was like, "Oh, wow."
So I'm I was learning myself. Yeah. It's always more history to find out and learn. Exactly.
So this is um this is just kind of a like a entryway that families if they're coming in from the chapel they come through. But this is also our like history wall. Okay. And a lot of the awards and articles that have been written. This is what I was describing before. So this is my mom. So this was during co ah how she was able to continue the business.
Yes. And so this is she's meeting with a woman. And then we had to have six feet apart, right? So I actually took a measuring tape out there and measured 6 ft for all the chairs. I think we were only allowed to have 10 people at a time. So
I see here. Yeah. Got picked up by the US today. Mhm.
And then this is when we celebrated 100red years. We had an all-white party and we did that right here in the funeral home in our
You often have events for the community where you invite the community in. Yes. Yep. We've had health fairs. Um I started actually in 19 um and actually 2012 was the year after my dad passed. That's I got the idea because he had been diagnosed with lung cancer. And as an 8-year-old African-American man, I don't know if that was a factor or not, but he wasn't really given any options.
And so I have always believed in alternative medicine and like I'm into Reiki and energy healing, all kinds of stuff. So, I wanted to create a space for people to be able to meet with different practitioners. Sure. And, you know, maybe be introduced to something that they were not aware even existed or maybe they thought was, you know, you know, a little
Yeah. So, taboo. Right. Exactly. Um, and it but it occurs to me in doing so you're allowing folks to have access to a place that they normally wouldn't come to. Right. Except for in really traumatic moments and so they're able to see this as a community space.
Exactly. Right. And that's um that's a a bigger vision of mine is to create a more you know something year round a community space for people around healing wellness. Yeah. So,
I love that. So, not just a place to come to mourn your loved ones, but a place to figure out how you can live a better life. Right. Exactly. And heal from whether if it's grief or, you know, just everyday stress and, you know, and also heal the planet cuz I'm really into that, too. So,
anything else along this uh prestigious wall you want to show us here? Um, yeah. I mean, there's all the proclamations that we've received over the years, um, and different achievements. This side is all my my my mom and dad. And then these are my grandparents. Okay. They're they're achievements. And then this right here is from Chissa Street.
So, it says, "Meet the folks on um Chursa Street." Okay. They're all friends on Chissa Street. So,
are your parents there? Yep. So there's my grandfather, my grandmother, and my father. And Vallette, Vallette, Fontinet. Those are families that I'm sure you've heard those names. Yes. Um cuz they do um Mr. Fontineette does a lot with across the street reunion now. Mhm. Very, very familiar. Mhm.
And this here is a picture of a military um funeral. Um I don't remember who this was, but um it was a prestigious person who had a lot of connections. I mean I think he was an elk or a mason. Ah um he may have also I mean he was in the military. Um we got nurses here you know the minute the rifles and then I think that's my grandfather in that picture.
Yeah. So, I imagine you've had scores of uh notable Rochesterians. Yes. Who have utilized your services? Yes. I um last night we were looking through some like old programs and I think um Dr. Hurst, the first African-American doctor. Okay. Um and yeah, did you mention uh Dr. Body as well? Yes. Yeah, Dr. Body. um many warfield warfields.
So this is the chapel. So this is the addition that was put on I want to say in like late 1960s early '7s maybe even 80s and I don't remember. Um it was here when I was born. I was born in ' 74.
Okay. So I was So as long as you remember this has been here. I Yes. This has been here as long as I remember. And so this is the main chapel.
And if it's a large funeral or wake, we have the overflow room. Okay. And so this is where um we actually have a funeral Saturday. So that's the casket for that woman set up. Yeah.
Yes. So I mean this is the space takes you back in time, you know, with the wood paneling. Right. The ceilings. Yes. Yeah. It's it's a new addition, but it's still um Right. It has some history to it. Yes, it does indeed. And it's, you know, there's, you know, part of part of me wants to update it for, you know, today's times, but at the same time, the nostalgia is, you know, you don't want to take that away.
I get that. Yeah. Yeah. That's part of, you know, preserving historic places like that. It's like deciding what do you you know when do you bring in the new technology and the updates and when do you and how do you preserve some of the historic elements that you you know you may not find anywhere else.
Right. Absolutely. And then this is our casket showroom and this here um is a place we we do have a catalog for families to look through but sometimes it's better to see it in person.
Okay. So you can actually see the real tone of the wood or the real color of like the caskets. Um this here is a rental that we rent. And we do have um two metal rentals. This is not one of them, but we do have two metal rentals as well.
You actually have clothes here? Yes. Yeah, we have clothes. If people don't have anything and they don't want to go out and buy it, we can sell them clothing. These here are the samples of the vaults because every every cemetery in Rochester requires a vault to bury someone. Yeah. Unless it's a green bar.
I think families are surprised about that, right? Cuz they know about the casket, but then they're like, you got to get a vault, too. Right. Exactly. Right. And they can add up. I mean, I don't know who would get this. Maybe a celebrity or somebody, but premium.
Yes. But um I mean one of the things that with ground burials that you have to worry about is is moisture is water. And so um all of these that you see here, they seal. So they're airtight, right? So and then um the caskets, everything from Do they lock?
I think the Sutton from the Sutton up does lock. And um again, that's that's the reason it's like there's like a a rubber membrane that seals up and that keeps water out. So like if you think about like when they opened up Medicare Eververse, he looked exactly like he went in preserved.
Preserved. Wow. Molina, you know a lot. Are you are you in line to take over?
I don't know yet because like I said, my passion is the the healing and wellness and that's how I could see myself continuing the legacy. Okay. But it is difficult because after 104 years, I don't want to see it just disappear. Absolutely. So, so I I struggle with that like daily. Yeah. And if I heard your mom say you're supposed to be in the class, right? And if you ask my mom, she's always like, "Third generation. There's my third generation." So, you know, we we'll see.
She's naming it and claiming it. Right. Exactly. Right. Yes. Yeah. And so Oh, I didn't The casket beers that are in there, they used to push me around in here in this area. Yeah. Cuz you said you grew up. Yes. This is like home for you.
It is. It really is. I mean I mean I actually moved from my parents house to here. Um cuz I went to RIT. I went to MCC and RIT. So I didn't leave like leave town to go to school and and this was here. My grandmother had I think she had passed at that time, but um it was sitting empty maybe for a couple years and I was like, you know what? I'm like, I'm going to move in there. I'm like, why try to find an apartment somewhere when I have this? And I'm I was already attached to it because I'd always come
All the memories. All the memories and everything. And if you're going to you're going to work here, right?
Exactly. Right. And it's very convenient. I just wake up and I go downstairs. Mhm. So So this right here is how when people come in the chapel way, I bring them this way and I'm like, "Okay." I'm like, "I'll take you, too."
Oh. So this is how through this area. Okay. And so then I'm always like, "Here's Mrs. Vladimr. Great. Hi, Mrs. Latimer. Like, everybody can have a seat.
Yes. Yep. And this here is like mission control. This is my my office, which a lot of work gets done, the the death certificates and programs if people need them, newspaper notices, which a lot of people don't do anymore, right? But um everything Yep. We put it on our website.
And um so this is where I sit while she's meeting with families and so and I'll chime in every now and then. Yeah. So you kind of you kind of have an ear out so you know exactly what you're doing. Yeah.
Yeah. So, she'll she'll start the process with them and I'll make the copies and I'll start I'll get the worksheet and I will put it in the computer and I look up the death certificate and then, you know, hopefully everything happens all at once and when they're when they're done then they get to go home and feel comfortable that they're handled.
Yeah. Yeah. I do have a question. It just occurred to me. How do you because you know this time and for a lot of families is very stressful, very traumatic and people can act out. So how do you know how we how do you all control the drama? I'll just put it that way.
She could tell you stories. I mean, we've had, you know, two brothers fighting, like moving furniture, like pushing each other, like I mean, it's been we've Yeah. She could write a book. Yeah. Yeah.
We'll have to get you to write that book, right? Exactly. Yeah. So, I mean, it's just one of those things. I I've said before, you know, I think death brings out like the best and the worst of people because you're highly emotional. So, you know, it just depends on how somebody's handling at that moment.
Well, Molina, thank you for being here in times of, you know, when people need you all and for being, you know, in Rochester for this long-erving families. And thank you for allowing us to see this historic business and historic building and we want to talk to your mom.
Okay. So, Mrs. Latimer, there's a lot of history here. You're an important business in the community. Why is it that you decided to carry on this legacy?
I thought it was important to carry it on and keep it going, you know, for children to come, grandchildren, great grand. I mean, I have six great grandchildren now. So, I think it's so important and also for the community. Yeah, we always have supported this community.
And you're also supporting families in their time of need. Absolutely. You have to stick together cuz someone offered me a job. And uh I thought about going like really it was the other persuasion. I'm going like what is that about? Yeah, you know, you can't make it the way you used to, but now you need my pretty colors.
Oh, was it a competitor? Well, not much because they were Oh, okay. Gotcha. I got you. Yeah, but they wanted me and her. So, businesses and and I've heard this before. I mean, you're no different as a small independent African-Ameanowned business. You have other larger businesses or businesses of different, as you said, different persuasions trying to come in and take over.
I know. Like, that's ridiculous. You know, no, I could never I could never do that. You know, the my where I'm at now, my people.
So, tell me how you got involved in this business. Take me back. Okay, that's my story. I I had a cousin who lived in Rochester. I'm from Philadelphia. And every year we would decide, well, she's going to come to see me and I'll go see her. She had two children. I was divorced with two children. And I came to see her. Her name was Be. And when I came, she lived right around the corner.
Right around the corner from uh here. And um so I came to visit her and she said, "Well, every time you come, I'll try to find someone to all go out to eat." Okay. And you you know, you'll have a date. I'm like, "Okay." You know, and she uh she called that a guy and it was Miller Latimer Jr.
Had you heard of him? No. No, you didn't know. I didn't know him. What did you think when I saw him?
Yeah. Oh, I was very pleased. I I go really but he was pleased to I bet. He asked me to marry him like three months.
So when you found out he was a funeral director, did you have any pause, any concerns? Kind of. Cuz I was a little afraid because uh when I come to visit, I would turn my back to the inbombing room. I didn't want to see you know and then of course I went back to school gradu kappa and got my license.
Impressive. Yeah. And I would get when I had to go to the inbombing school classes I would call him and say well I'm going to try this again and I turn my back as I usually do with him. But I said oh this is nothing. Ah, I was going to ask you how did you get up the nerve? What what changed?
I guess just needed to be able to do everything if my husband passed away. Okay. You know, I fig, well, why would I not have my license so that I can carry on?
Did he impress upon you the importance of, you know, that this is a familyowned business and he really wanted it to stay in the family? No. No. But you just felt the need to do something. Yeah, exactly. I felt that, you know, this is my husband. He's older than I am. He was like 14 years older and if something happens, I want to be able to tell people what to do, how to handle it, then have them tell me, right?
So now you are in charge. Yes. And became the first woman president of this the the funeral director association here.
So you've seen a lot. Yes. Yes. As Molina was saying, you've seen a lot people at their worst times. Yes. Yes. And you have to know how to deal with people, you know, different personalities. Like she's talking about those brothers. Now, I saw that brother, they were bouncing out. I was running around in here trying to get over there. And I saw him. I had a service at this man's church. I was with this man looked very familiar. and he was carrying a chair from the back room down downtown church. And I'm like, what? What is he doing? And I looked that up again and that was the man that was bouncing around in my office and he's going like, he's a minister now.
First thing I do I say to them is uh about my name, the Monique. Yes cuz I gave myself that in modern class in school. Oh, but that's not my real name. So, I will say that and I do it all the time. You know, I'm going to sign the death certificate, but it's not going to say Mo'Nique. It's going to say my real name. They go, "Malik, what's what do you mean? What is your real name?" I go, "Magu."
And they're like, "Really?" They they relax, you know? Yeah. And I do it every time because you're letting them in on a little secret of yours, right? Exactly. And it sort of lets down their guard.
It it does. Yeah. You know, and I'm very blessed that I can do that, you know, and where people are very relaxed with me.
I saw where you had to be very innovative during co and um so you've you've seen a lot. You have you've had to come um over a lot of hurdles. Yes. Absolutely. Yes. Yes.
I I a couple things. Uh I had a a young couple here and they didn't know what they wanted to do, you know, and I just said, "Go home, relax, call me, and let's talk over the telephone, you know, and we'll share things, you know, and then I'll help you through some of the things you probably wanting to do. I'm not sure, but let's let's do that. Let's you'll come back and call me and and it works out. Yeah. It really does. So, I'm very fortunate. Yeah. Cuz I'm the oldest of uh nine children.
Okay. You know, and I raised in Philly, raised my father, a laborer, mother, a maid, you know, and uh we we had to beg for food, things like that, you know. It's just but leave it with the Lord, you know, and have trust.
Oh, yeah. You know, so I tell people this, you got to pray, take it to the Lord. What's your hope going forward? What do you want to see happen the next hundred years?
Next hundred years, uh, Nolina to have her license. I would love to to train her and you know and she come you know then she can sit here and do things that I do right because you have to have a license to you know to sell a funeral.
I thank you for allowing us. I thank you for doing for inviting me. Oh yes. I thank you. It's important what you do and as an African-Amean business it's absolutely it's important to showcase that you're still here.
Yeah, exactly. Yes. You know, I may be older. The business is old, but you know, we're here. Yeah. Get the Rochester first streaming app today for everything you love from News8 on demand, plus exclusive shows you won't see anywhere else. Search ROC and download for free on Roku, Amazon Fire, and Apple TV.