Must-See RVA! — A. D. Price Funeral Home

212 East Leigh Street
Built, 1883
Architect, Charles T. Russell (livery)

Born in slavery, A. D. Price became one of the first black funeral directors in Virginia.

(Virginia Historical Society) — September 2016

One of Walker’s contemporaries was Alfred D. Price, a funeral home director described as “a consummate entrepreneur.” The complex of buildings that this enterprising African American built on Leigh Street was within sight of the Walker home, and the black-draped hearses and limousines from Price’s considerable fleet must have been a common sight in Jackson Ward.

(Find A Grave) — A. D. Price

In 1902 Price built a three-story structure that still stands at. 212 East. Leigh Street, part of a complex of buildings (some of which have been demolished) that played an important role in the social lives of the blacks of Jackson Ward.

(LOC) — Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Richmond (1905)

While the first floor held the funeral business and associated livery stables, the two upper floors held “many elaborately decorated halls and rooms.”’ As was typical with Richmond’s black elite, when in 1913 Price needed a new livery stable, he hired Russell to design this utilitarian structure. It still stands behind the former Price facility at 208 East Leigh Street. [BBB]

August 2016 — former livery stable

In addition to his reputation as a businessman, Price was also known in the community as philanthropist. In 1912, Virginia Christian, a 17 year old black girl, was electrocuted for the murder of Ida Belote. The state wanted to give her remains to the State Medical School, but they were instead secretly removed to Price’s funeral home for burial by her parents in Hampton. [GML]

Sources

• [BBB] Built By Blacks. Selden Richardson. 2008.
• [GML] Grant Me to Live. Charles Vaughan. 2010.
• (Virginia Historical Society) A. D. Price Funeral Establishment.

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