Stories from the Third Ward: A Pastor, a Teacher, and an Ex-Pharmacist Walk into a Funeral Home

Send us Fan MailIn this special episode, Miranda Ruzinsky and Katie Truax – UH graduate students in public history – highlight the tradition of community support in Third Ward demonstrated through the institutions and public spaces associated with the funeral process. The role of black-owned businesses, churches and religious leaders, and public remembrance like murals are central to the neighborhood’s resilience in difficult times of death and grief.  This episode was researched, recorded, and produced by Miranda Ruzinsky and Katie Truax for the Center for Public History at the University of Houston. To learn more: Beverly, Trevia Wooster. “At Rest: A Historical Directory of Harris County, Texas Cemeteries (1822-2001).” Reference Material, n.d. Genealogy Collection. Houston History Research Center. Bruines, Myron. “Walter Allen Ford.” Funeral Program. McCoy & Harrison Funeral Home: 4918 Martin Luther King Boulevard, Houston (Tex.), 77021; Jones Memorial United Methodist Church: 2504 Almeda Genoa Road, Houston (Tex.), 77047; Houston Memorial Gardens: 2426 Cullen Boulevard, Pearland (Tex.), 77581, April 14, 2016. African American Funeral Programs. Houston Public Library Digital Archives.  Houston Mural Map. https://houstonmuralmap.com/. Najarro, Ileana. “Black Funeral Homes in Danger in Some U.S., Houston Communities.” Houston Chronicle, January 23, 2019.  “Our History - McCoy & Harrison Funeral Home,” June 11, 2018.  Wilson, Ezell. “Third Ward, Steeped in Tradition of Self-Reliance and Achievement.” Houston History, April 18, 2011. All check out the amazing collections at the African American History Research Center at the Gregory Campus. Oral Histories conducted by Miranda Ruzinsky:  Dickson, Pastor Donald, Interview, March 9, 2024. McCoy Abernathy, Helen. Interview, February 24, 2024. Music courtesy of:Freesound.org"remix of 45145__hammerklavier__GOSPEL_INTRO_TRADITIONAL_even_BRIGHTER_reverbed.wav" by Timbre. CC BY-NC 4.0. "Street Gospel Hip Hip Piano - 75bpm - Bbmaj" by nnaudio. CC BY 4.0.   Freemusicarchive.org"Little Wooden Church" by The Trumpeteers. PDM 1.0.   "Free Spacy Organ (F 003)" by Lobo Loco. CC BY-SA 4.0.  https://sarah-bereza.com/hymn-accompaniments/The Center for Public History at the University of Houston. https://uh.edu/class/cph