First of all,
Unity Funeral Chapels sincerely appreciates the African-American
community's continual support over the decades. There is a
persistent rumor in the African-American community that Unity
Funeral Chapels Inc. is owned by a white funeral home chain. The
rumor is absolutely false.
Unity Funeral Chapels is owned by
five African-American entrepreneurs, former Unity Funeral Chapels
employees. The proprietors of Unity Funeral Chapels are Alfredo
Serrano, president and comptroller; Clifford V. James, vice
president, general manager; Vincent J. Morgan, Manager of the
Bronx Chapel; Colleen Dupree, retired; and John T. Dash, retired.
The late Dr. C.
B. Powell, a prominent African-American businessman, founded Unity
Funeral Chapels Inc. in 1953, which consisted of three chapels;
one in Manhattan,
one in the Bronx,
and one in Brooklyn,
all of which are still prospering. Dr. Powell was also the
principal owner of the New York Amsterdam News. He sold the Unity
Funeral Chapels Inc. to International Funeral Services, a white
owned company, in May 1972. The above mentioned five Black
businesspersons purchased Unity Funeral Chapels on June 30, 1980
from the white conglomerate.
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Our basic goals have been to
improve
the service of our
chapels. Since the 1980's, we have invested
half a million dollars in renovations (almost always using
African-American contractors) which has resulted in
state-of-the-art chapels. In fact, our chapels are such a class
act because of the exquisite outer and inner quality of our
edifices. Unity Funeral Chapels have wall-to-wall carpeting,
modern air conditioning, cushioned chairs, private family and
reposing rooms, 12 sensitive-to-your-needs courteous, efficient,
highly skilled funeral directors, price quotes by phone, a unique
pre-arrangement program, the latest model customized powder-blue
Cadillac limousines and hearses owned by Unity Funeral Chapels,
and the latest model Cadillac limousines rented from Black-owned
agencies. Overall, Unity employs 22 individuals from the
African-American Community. Unity also contributes to community
educational and recreational programs.
Let's bury the rumors now: Unity
Funeral Chapels Inc. is a totally African-American owned and
operated enterprise, and God willing, we intend to remain so.
Again, THANK YOU for your support.
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