Historic Birmingham funeral home in business for 126 years names new president

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Davenport and Harris Funeral Homes has named a new president after more than a century in business.

Rev. LaChaune Nicole Slater will take over as president and CEO of the funeral home, which has served Birmingham families for 126 years. Marion Partee Sterling, who led the business for 20 years as its fourth-generation president, announced the transition.

The funeral home was founded Sept. 12, 1899, in Birmingham’s Titusville neighborhood by Charles Morgan Harris and his sister, Hattie Davenport.

“When my great-grandfather, Charles Morgan Harris, and his sister, Hattie Davenport, decided to open a funeral home, at that time, there was not one establishment that would touch the deceased body of an African-American male, female, or child,” Sterling said.

The funeral home was born out of necessity about 30 years after the abolishment of slavery.

Leadership beyond family

While Sterling is the fourth-generation family member to lead the funeral home, he said the business has not always been managed by relatives.

After founder Charles Morgan Harris died, his wife stepped in as president. Leadership then passed to their children, including Virgil Harris, who served as president for many years. After Virgil Harris, Paul Harris became president, though he had no family relationship to the founders. Jim Harrison, also not a family member, followed as president.

Sterling’s cousin, Carol Mitchell, served as president before Sterling took over in 2006.

Sterling said he has been thinking about retiring for the past three years.

“Over the years I’ve observed that in small businesses, particularly African-American family-owned business, i.e. funeral homes, the board of directors of the stockholders wait for the leader to die before they select a new leader,” Sterling said. “I did not want that chaos to happen here at Davenport and Harris.”

Historic role in civil rights era

Davenport and Harris handled funeral services for three of the four girls killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in 1963. The funeral home also laid to rest civil rights icon Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth in 2011.

“If you don’t have the heart for the community, the community won’t have the heart for you,” Sterling said.

Sterling said the transition marks the end of an era for him.

“It has been an experience of a lifetime,” he said.

New leader rises through the ranks

Slater is not related to the founding family but was hired by Sterling nearly two decades ago. She started as an apprentice in 2007 and worked in roles throughout the funeral home.

Slater said she was drawn to the funeral industry while studying at Miles College. She enrolled at Jefferson State Community College for funeral service education and came to Davenport and Harris as an apprentice.

“It was a matter of working with the public, learning the families, learning how to interact, how to be compassionate,” Slater said.

Sterling said he advised Slater not to choose a specific area to work in until she had experienced every aspect of the business.

“I remember planting flowers outside, out front before our renovation. We washed cars, but we also learned from the front to the back,” Slater said.

Slater is also an ordained minister at Payne Chapel in Titusville.

“It is surreal. It’s humbling. It’s an amazing feeling. It’s heavy, but it’s a weight that’s worth carrying,” she said.

Sterling said Slater is qualified and connected to the community.

“She understands the rules and regulations of the Alabama Board of Funeral Services, which govern funeral homes here in Alabama,” Sterling said. “And she’s the right fit.”

Vision for the future

Slater said she plans to continue the funeral home’s mission of serving the community.

“We want to continue to be that supporting anchor for our community. Birmingham, Alabama as a whole depends on Davenport and Harris and leans on us heavily,” she said.

Sterling said Slater represents the future of the funeral home.

“She’s the vision, she’s the plan, she’s the future,” he said.

LaTorria Williams, also a longtime employee who began as an apprentice, has been promoted to general manager.

Sterling said he plans to remain involved during the transition to help ensure the funeral home continues serving families at the highest standard.

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