William C.
Harris Jr. started answering the phones and washing cars at a
funeral home when he was 12.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Now he’s the owner of two funeral homes – William C. Harris Funeral Directors – and his family largely make up his team.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Five years ago, he started his first location from the ground up at 9825 Halls Ferry Rd.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I was able to make a go at it with no clientele, and the community was very receptive,” William said.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>So in March when he opened his second location in East St. Louis, he figured it would work out the same way.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>He was wrong. Since April, he has only provided one family with one funeral service in East St. Louis.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Why the community has not been receptive is a bit of a mystery. But sources say it had something to do with an article in the Belleville News-Democrat newspaper.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>In June, reporter Laura Girresch wrote about William opening the funeral home, but she focused extensively on the home’s previous owner Marion E. Officer Jr., who faced state sanctions and many debts.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Girresch cited state records, and William said nothing bad about Officer’s business.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>However, sources say that when some clergy read the article, they blamed William for the bad coverage of Officer and decided not to give the Harris family a chance. In East St. Louis, funeral homes rely on clergy members for their loyalty and commitments. If funeral directors don’t have the clergy’s support, they basically don’t have any business.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Luckily the person leasing the building to the Harris family is committed to helping them make it as a business, William said. And William is trying to gain the community’s trust.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“A lot of the community still doesn’t know we exist,” William said. “We’ve been told by the families we’ve served that they have never seen a service conducted like that. It makes us all feel good, and it makes the struggle all worth while.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The only funeral held at the East St. Louis location was for an East St. Louis clergy member – the funeral of Pastor Malvin E. Hubbard of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in April 2011. Karen Hubbard, his wife, spoke highly of the service.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I loved the Harris funeral home and their professionalism. Everything they do is upscale,” she said.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>She believes with more time and more people getting to know about the funeral home, the business will build up.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“People are more likely to stick with what they know. We don’t like change,” she said. “font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Directing at a young age
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>William graduated high school on January 17, 1983, and he took his exam to become a licensed funeral director on February 23 that year. It was 10 days after his 18th birthday.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“I don’t look at my colleagues as competitors,” William said. “It goes back to my Christian values. What God has for me, it is for me.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>One big challenge for Harris is that he is the new kid on the block for African-American funeral directors. But that also allows him to think differently.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We are not your typical funeral directors in that our business is tailored to our families,” William said.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>They wear a color scheme to coordinate with what the deceased is wearing. They also release four doves at every service.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“We set that as our trademark,” he said. “We have five white doves in a cage in the lobby. People love it. It is more of a tribute to the family and the deceased.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>His staff and family are Christian.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“The same morals that I have are already instilled in my children,” he said. “It’s easier for them to understand the logistics of it and what the importance is.”
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>His daughter Tiara Harris is the company’s chief financial officer. Tiara, his son William III, his wife Garnet are all studying to earn their funeral director certifications.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>His oldest son, Westley, takes care of facilities and maintenance. William III and Windall are service attendants and support staff, who are currently learning the management of the business.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Garnet handles all the printed programs for the service. Everyone pitches in for everything, he said. Most importantly, they all share the same priorities and beliefs.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“What’s important is taking care of the family,” William said. “Families are first, no matter what.”
