OUR HISTORY
Lawrence A. Jones Sr. started in the mortuary business at 14 by cleaning the morgue and polishing the Pierce-Arrows at H.B. Moore Funeral Home. In 1950, Mr. Lawrence A. Jones Sr. and his wife Nettie, founded Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapels, one of Kansas City’s best-known funeral homes.
In the 50’s when there were upwards of 30 black owned funeral parlors, Mr. Jones was preparing for the day when he would no longer be around to run his business. He said “In this business…when the owners died, their business died.” He did not want that to happen to his business, so he taught his sons the ropes of the funeral business.
Regarded as “One of the great strengths of the African-American community” by former Mayor Emanuel Cleaver, Mr. Jones was able to combine civil involvement and business success, both of which are rare attributes in the black community. During his career, when insurance wouldn’t cover the costs of services or the family just didn’t have the money to bury the deceased, Mr. Jones would simply say…“bring them in”. He took care of a lot people who couldn’t afford the costs of burials. “Lawrence was someone who never refused to assist anyone. He was a great humanitarian. I had numerous people over the years who didn’t have money for burials. All those persons ended up having funerals.”-Alvin Brooks, president of The Ad Hoc Group Against Crime. He would always say “You’re no more in death than you are in life.”
What was started as a three room funeral home on 18th Street and Park Avenue has blossomed into a two location operation, boasting at one time locations in as many as 3 cities (Kansas City, KS, Kansas City, MO and Topeka, KS)!
Today, Lawrence A. Jones Funeral Chapels is still a family owned business and remains a cornerstone in the minority community for funeral services.
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Mr. Lindsay Jones, CEO and President
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Mrs. Santa Jones, Assistant Vice President
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Mr. DeLawrence Shepherd, Chapel Manager
Mr. Shepherd is a native of Kansas City, Mo. He is an Onsite Manager at Lawrence A. Jones. Mr. Shepherd has held his position since 2005. Mr. Shepherd obtained an Associates of Arts degree, and is pursuing his Bachelors Degree. Mr. Shepherd is retired from the U.S. Navy after serving 21 honorable years of service. Mr. Shepherd's duties are to oversee the entire operations of Lawrence A. Jones Funeral Chapels. Mr. Shepherd's future aspiration is to one day own his own business. DeLawrence Shepherd is married to the former Kimberly D. McCoy, and together they have 4 lovely children. Mr. Shepherd proudly serves as the Pastor of the Mt. Calvary Church Of God In Christ, and he also serves as the Interim Superintendent of the Wyandotte District of the Kansas East Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction; and Adjutant Overseer for Communion of The Church Of God In Christ
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Larnell G. Jones, Licensed Funeral Director & Embalmer
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Dave Bratton, Chief Embalmer
Dave Bratton is a native of Atchison Kansas, a small family oriented community located in the far corner of Northeast Kansas. His path to the funeral service ministry began at an early age assisting his father in numerous aspects of funeral service at the J.T. Miles Memorial Chapel, which was located in Atchison.Dave began his career at Lawrence A. Jones & Sons in the year of 2001 as a student embalmer at the Kansas Chapel. He now serves as the Chief Embalmer at Lawrence A. Jones & Sons.Dave currently resides in his hometown of Atchison, Kansas, where he is very active in his community as a high school football coach. He has been a lifelong member of the Campbell Chapel A.M.E Church and is happily married to his wife of 3 years, Ashley.
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Mr. Duane E. Harvey, Licensed Funeral Director/Asst. Gen. Manager
Duane E. Harvey is a licensed funeral director and has been serving families over 50 years. His passion and love for the funeral business started in 1970. He is the former President of the Missouri-Kansas Funeral Directors & Embalmers Association, Past President of the Missouri State Funeral Directors & Embalmers Association, Former District 7 Governor with the National Funeral Diirectors & Morticians Association. He is the 52nd Past National President of the National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association. He affectionately known as the "Friendly Undertaker." He is the current advisor to the Missouri State Funeral Directors & Embalmers Association. He is Past Worshipful Master of Blue Valley Lodge #64 F. & A.M., now Coles Finch Lodge #186 F. & A.M.
