By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher, San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper
For those who might be new to San Diego, it will probably be hard to understand the feelings about the Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary and the panic over its closing, Since 1955 when Mr. Ragsdale, Sr. opened his doors, his family owned business has been a part of most households in this African American community.
Mr. Ragsdale spoke of how many homes he had visited on a given street over the decades. He handled services for generations within families and his son Skipper, when he entered the business, also had a passion for people. The Pre-Need arrangements also cover generations as great grandparents, grandparents and parents have arrangements paid for and awaiting their use at the appointed time. So the idea of an Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary is deep and personal to many.
But so many of us today have grown up not knowing that the Black mortician stood out because he had the one business controlled by Black folks, and he helped everyone at some point in time.
We, the community, look forward to the restructuring and re-opening of the Mortuary and hope it will be with us for time to come, but if he can’t, then we must be about the business of determining how we can preserve it.
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