One of the oldest Black businesses in Carbondale, the Jackson Funeral Home, is everything to Larry Walton. Walton grew up in and around the home learning about the funeral business from James Walker and Etta Jackson.
Jackson opened the home with her husband Frank in 1905. After Frank’s death in 1949, Etta continued to run the business with the assistance of John E. Jones, until his death in 1964. In 1974, Walker took over the business with the help of Jackson and his wife Thelma.
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Jackson died in 1980 and the Walkers continued to run it until Thelma died in 2008 and James died in 2011.
After serving in the Navy, Walton came back to southern Illinois and now directs the home.
“The Jackson Funeral Home is one of the oldest Black funeral homes in the southern Illinois area, proudly serving Carbondale and the surrounding communities for generations,” Walton said in an interview in mid-January.
Walton keeps photos of the original owners, Etta and Frank Jackson, on the wall throughout the home.
“It serves as a daily reminder of our legacy, our roots and the longstanding commitment to service that continues to guide our work today,” employee Leanor Lewis said.
Throughout the years, they have made small updates and improvements to the business without taking away from the building’s heritage.
“The building hasn’t changed much over the years,” Walton said.
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From the chapel with an organ in the corner to the front entrance with photos of the owners throughout the home, Walton says that the overall structure and character of the funeral home has remained the same.
Walton said Etta Jackson treated everyone like family and that money isn’t the most important thing – but that helping others in the community is. This idea has stayed with Walton throughout his life.
“I believe in providing a family the utmost care that we can afford to,” Walton said. “It is a service. Yeah, you want to make money, that’s true enough in a business, but sometimes, taking care of a family and serving a family and helping that family at that most sad time outweighs any money that you can get.”
They have helped southern Illinois families for generations and guide them through every step of the way following the death of a loved one, from showing them who the local florists are to providing information about what a eulogy should say.
Mary Keller, owner of Quick Magic Gardens, a Carbondale business that works with the home to create floral arrangements, considers Walton a friend.
“The second he meets you, he has the kind of approach like he’s going to be your friend,” Keller said.
The floral shop has worked with the funeral home since 2022. They work with the families and home closely to determine what flower arrangement is right for the customer.
“So a lot of times (he) will send somebody down to us,” Keller said.
They read the obituary and take steps to understand exactly who the person was in the community. Keller then uses the information to create a floral arrangement that represents them.
“Just yesterday, somebody brought us a copper container because that person’s mom loved copper. And so we’re going to signify the person using something that was very personal to her,” Keller said.
She said she holds a lot of respect for Walton.
“He’s talked about how his family really sacrificed a lot because they felt like it was important to have that funeral home,” Keller said.
For those attending a funeral, they have a “funeral etiquette” page on their website so that guests have an understanding of what to wear, what to say and what to expect.
Working at the funeral home is meaningful for employee Michael Bryant, he said, because he gets “to render service in a comforting and compassionate presence when families are at their lowest,” Bryant said.
When the business first opened, computers hadn’t been invented yet. They had to file and complete paperwork by hand. Computers have allowed the home to streamline work flow, save time and remain focussed on the people.
“It has especially simplified the processing of paperwork, allowing us to spend less time on forms and more time focusing on the families we serve,” Lewis said.
While one can choose to play music from a phone or a CD during a funeral, the home still features an organ, which Walton loves to play.
“He can play the organ like no other,” Keller said.
Jackson Funeral Home helps create a special moment to say goodbye to a loved one. Bryant said one would be surprised “to realize that it’s not only about the dead, but the families who are grieving, and going through a process. You are there to help them through it.”
The job can take a toll on morticians as they help people through a dark time in their life.
“The families we serve are often our friends, neighbors, relatives or people we know through our local churches,” Lewis said. “Their grief becomes our grief as well because their loss is felt throughout our community. Supporting them means walking alongside people we care deeply about.”
Walton and Keller both describe the home as an anchor for the community.
“What an important, vital, integral and amazing part of the Carbondale community,” Keller said.
The employees of Jackson Funeral Home said they love helping Carbondale and are currently deciding how to celebrate their anniversary in October.
They recently got an award from the National Funeral Directors Association for over 100 years of service to their community.
“We want the community to remember Jackson Funeral Home, as a place that proudly serves Carbondale and the surrounding areas with dignity and respect,” Lewis said. “We are deeply committed to supporting families through their most challenging times and providing the highest standards of professional excellence and compassionate care to all who place their trust in us.”
Digital Editor Peyton Cook can be reached at [email protected], or on Instagram at @cookmeavisual.
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