Funeral homes have had a profound impact on communities for decades. Learn from Dr. Camelia Clarke, president and CEO of Paradise Memorial Funeral and Cremation Services and the Leon L. Williamson Funeral Home, as she shares her journey in the death care industry, the legacy of Black funeral homes and her commitment to serving families during their most vulnerable times.
Through the legacy initiative of “How will you be remembered?”, Clarke discusses how she and her family-owned funeral homes support people as they process grief while also celebrating the lives of those who have passed on.
Tune in to gain insights about the vital role funeral homes play in communities and the power of remembrance.
Episode Highlights:
08:14 - In fact, when Martin Luther King, Jr. passed away, when he was killed, the last person to witness him being alive was the limousine driver from the funeral home. He was being transported via the limo of a local funeral home. And so, how we are still carrying that legacy through here in Milwaukee, we acquired last year, the eldest African -American funeral home in Milwaukee, which is almost 75 years old. That's Leon L. Williamson Chapel that we have. That funeral home has been the site of so many meetings, so many strategic meetings with churches with community leaders, and it's right there in the heart of the community and it is such a gem.
12:09 - How will you be remembered? That legacy stands on so many levels, whether it's living or whether it's in sickness, or whether it's in death. What you say to people, how you make them feel, they'll never forget it. What you do and how you contribute, people will never forget that.
14:34 - I want to be a helper of people and being able to help poor people for me has evolved from sitting in that arrangement with that husband who's lost his wife or the mother who's tragically lost her son or daughter, and making a difficult time a little bit easier by helping them to create a service that celebrates the life that their loved-one lived.
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Guest Bio:
Dr. Camelia Clarke brings over 20 years of service in the funeral industry as a licensed funeral director. She is also a licensed insurance intermediary for the state of Wisconsin. She is an active member of the National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) and Selected Independent Funeral Homes. She is the past president of the Milwaukee Waukesha County Funeral Directors (MWCFDA) and the immediate past president of the Wisconsin Funeral Directors Association (WFDA).
Clarke graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science, Cardinal Stritch University (BSBA), Marquette University (EMBA) and the University-Wisconsin Whitewater with a Doctorate of Business Administration.
She has served on many boards, including the MATC Funeral Service Advisory Board, Prince Hall Masonic Foundation, Zonta International Club of Milwaukee, Outreach Community Health Care Center and Greater Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce. She is an active member of Unity Grand Chapter O.E.S., Sarah's Joy Chapter #8 O.E.S., and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Epsilon Kappa Omega Chapter in Milwaukee.
Clarke has been an active church member of the Holy Redeemer Church of God in Christ for many years. She is the wife of Marcel and is the mother of four wonderful children, Raja’ee, Jazzmin, Mariah and Mia Clarke.
