January 26, 2025 • 21 mins
Unlock the incredible journey of Christopher Harrison Sr., the owner of Heritage Funeral Directors and 4 Points Cremation, as he shares his inspiring story rooted in Northeast Oklahoma City. With nearly three decades in funeral service and 19 years as a business owner, Chris opens up about the evolution of his business and his commitment to making end-of-life arrangements accessible and affordable. His deep dedication to community service is exemplified through his roles on the Millwood Public School Board and his political aspirations. This episode promises rich insights from Chris’s extensive experience and the lessons he’s learned about growth, adaptability, and the power of community involvement.
We also tackle the vital conversation around final arrangements in the African-American community, highlighting the evolving cultural norms and the pivotal role African-American funeral directors have historically played. Chris emphasizes the importance of offering diverse options and understanding the financial considerations that come with funeral planning. From personal anecdotes about his life and career to broader reflections on leadership and advocacy, this episode is a heartfelt exploration of humility, gratitude, and the continuous journey toward personal and professional success. If you’re eager to learn from a leader who is deeply connected to his roots and committed to positive change, this episode is a must-listen.
Thank you for listening! YouTube - @3KeysforYourJourney -Tune in for a new episode every Sunday. Connect with us at www.ocfo.info
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Are you ready to unlock your potential?
Tune in to Three Keys for yourJourney podcast, where business
owners share invaluable insightsand empowering strategies to
guide you towards success.
Based in Oklahoma City, ourhost, greg T Jones, will inspire
and motivate you every week.
Get ready to join ourconversation as we build
(00:32):
community together.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
All right, we got Chris Harrison Heritage Funeral
Home and Cremation Services,based out of Oklahoma City City,
live on the podcast.
Thank you, sir, for being heretoday.
Good evening, thank you forhaving me.
I'm glad to have you.
Oh my gosh, chris, this is atreat man, we go back a number
of years and, man, to have youhere on the podcast is quite
(01:01):
wonderful.
I just had a flashback is quitewonderful.
I just had a a flashback.
Um, your son and I my sonsplayed little league basketball
together with coach johnny,coach johnny man, wow felt like,
uh, that's been only a fewyears ago, but man time does go
by fast, you've got a collegefreshman Second semester,
(01:26):
freshman Wow, yes, man.
Yes, OK, Chris.
Most people on the podcast arelistening audience.
They don't know Chris Harrisonis, so I always start out with
tell us introduce yourself toour listening audience.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
OK, and you refer to me as Chris Harrison, but my
official name, of course, and mylegal name is Christopher John
Harrison, senior.
I always say heavy on thesenior, but I do ask that
everybody just call me Chris.
Born and raised in NortheastOklahoma city, I'm a product of
Millwood public schools,Educated In Arkansas, played a
(02:06):
little college football,Oklahoma State University as
well, wrapped up my undergrad inmortuary science and funeral
service education, went on toget an MBA.
In the process of working herein Northeast Oklahoma City one
of the oldest funeral firms,Royal Funeral Home, I was able
to meet a young lady by the nameof Christy Pendleton and
(02:26):
shortly thereafter we dated, gotmarried, had a family and we're
what?
20?
This is year 27.
Wow, that's something elseinteresting about us.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
We share the same years of being married.
98 was a wonderful year.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
It was a great year.
It was a great year.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
And you have a wonderful wife, christy as well,
thank you.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
And so our oldest I'm a dad of two Oldest is Jaquia
Monet.
The youngest, of course, wouldbe Christopher Jr.
We affectionately refer to himas Deuce.
This will be year 30 for me inthe funeral service industry.
In the funeral service industrythis will be year 19 as an
(03:06):
owner, and you know I enjoycivic organizations.
I served on several boards.
I was elected to the schoolboard, millwood Public School
Board, served three terms, 15years, charted a little path
politically, ran for House ofRepresentatives here in Oklahoma
City as well as city council.
(03:27):
I often say they weren't themost successful runs because I
didn't win the seat, but theconnections that were made from
me being a candidate have beeninvaluable and I feel like I've
served my community quite a bitbetter from these other
positions.
Not to say that I don't havepolitical ambitions I think
that's something that stickswith you if you really care
(03:48):
about it but currently I enjoywhat I'm doing, and growing our
business is something thatChristian and I really want to
concentrate on here in the verynear future.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
To tell us a little bit about the business itself.
So tell us a little bit aboutthe business itself.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Heritage Funeral Home and Cremation Service is now
going into, like I said, year 19.
Our rebrand is Heritage FuneralDirectors and Four Points
Cremations, funeral service andnow embracing the need for
cremation services, not only inNortheast Oklahoma city or in
(04:26):
the black community, but in theOklahoma city community as a
whole.
It's really a growing sector ofpeople who are choosing
cremation as their finaldisposition following services.
So we really want to be able tocater to those who are
traditional and non-traditionalbut, more importantly, continue
(04:49):
to offer services a bit moreaffordable than what is going on
in our surrounding area.
And that can be a challenge.
Work hard enough with yourvendors and those who you use to
help serve one another.
You can find some costeffective ways to pass some
benefits on the families, andthat's that's just a personal
(05:11):
preference that Chrissy and Ihave.
We choose to use that approach,and so we are right here in the
heart of Northeast Oklahoma city, northeast 13th and Lottie.
This, this area, hastransitioned, I know, four or
five times over the last 50years, if you will, and so it's
seeing a resurgence, it's seeinga renaissance.
(05:33):
There's still some areas thatneed to have a little clean
white paint put on them, if youwill, but I shared with my wife
last week.
If anybody asked me about wherewe are and where we choose to
work, I tell them I'm doublingdown on Northeast Oklahoma City.
I believe in it.
So that's kind of us in anutshell.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Well, thanks for sharing that One.
It's great to get a goodperspective not only of yourself
, but some of the things thatyou've been involved in,
particularly as it relates toyour family.
Obviously, our podcast isaround keys along your journey,
and so I've asked all of ourguests you know, as you think
(06:13):
back over the many years ofbusiness, family man, community
man you even talked about makingthose political opportunities
or runs what are some of thethings that at least three
things, things that you canshare with our listening
audience that you would say havebeen keys for your journey.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Hmm, three keys to the journey.
Um, first, you don't know whatyou don't know, right.
So when you start out, um, beopen to learning what's out
there.
Quite often we feel if we'reprofessionals in something or if
(06:51):
we're very good at something,even a hobby, that we transition
into a business.
We feel like our knowledge baseis strong enough to carry us.
And so what you're not knowing,what you don't know, you can
tune out some of the helpfulthings that will help, that will
get you through those roughtimes and those rough moments.
(07:12):
I think that's that's key Rulesand routines.
You just have to have them.
You know there has to be aboundary that you set on
yourself ethically, what I willand just will not do.
And then financially, where'smy breaking point?
(07:36):
You know they say break evenpoint, but for me it's my
breaking point where I just sayI can't do that.
This is, you know, it's doing adisservice to the family as
well as my family.
This is, you know, it's doing adisservice to the family as
well as my family.
And then the routine portion.
I'm just good habits, and notto say that, that I have a ton
(07:58):
of good habits and perfecthabits, but I just kind of chase
me every day.
You know I'm going to be abetter version of me every day.
Some days are better thanothers, but you know that those
rules and routines.
And then, lastly, which probablycould have jumped out first, is
is having some level of faithin what it is you do.
(08:19):
Now you can have faith in God,a deity or whichever and I am a
man of faith when it comes froma Christian walk but faith in
what I do is is is theconfidence that I have to get up
and go and do it every day, butthen the reverence that I have
for what I do every day.
I tell everybody you only haveone time to do this.
You don't have a chance to redoit and sometimes it doesn't go
(08:43):
the way you want it to go, butit's not because you did not
give the effort and have thefaith and the reverence in what
it is you were doing.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
So, as you talk about that, I mean obviously you made
great points in your businessbecause you are dealing with
families and transition ofsomeone they've cared about, a
loved one.
You don't really have theopportunity to do things over
again.
So what are the things thatyou've established in your
business to try to get it rightthe first time?
Speaker 3 (09:19):
One to listen to what they're telling you.
There's a trend in funeralservice now that I'm noticing
where young funeral directorsand some not so young funeral
directors are making theservices about their level of
(09:39):
performance and notoriety.
And that's fine if that is yourstyle, okay, but for me it's
more of.
I'm trying to make this processas simple as possible, because
there's no way to make itpainless.
(10:00):
That's impossible.
But if you can simplify it andBe efficient in the process, you
find that families are more aptto talk to you when you're not
throwing things at them saying,well, here's what we're going to
do, and I don't believe in that.
(10:22):
I believe in listening Firstoff.
Something else I think we'vedone is we decided to be visible
outside of just what we do dayto day in the funeral industry.
There are so many people in thiscity who, after knowing me for
(10:43):
months on end, had no idea thatI was in the funeral industry or
I was an undertaker ormortician.
Well, quite often people thinkI'm a minister, which I think
it's hilarious.
But but it it it's if you, ifyou, can stay vigilant and
visible in your community andabroad, it allows individuals to
(11:04):
feel comfortable with you whenthat time comes, because I don't
want a kid to only remember meas the guy who buried their mom
or their grandmother orgrandfather.
I want them to remember that'sMr Chris who came to my class,
or that's Mr Chris who broughtus bikes, you know, to our Boys
(11:27):
and Girls Club, or you knowsomething along those lines as
well, is something we try tostick with.
And then, lastly, we're workingon not perfected it by no
stretch, but we're working oneffective communication.
You know it's one part tolisten, but then when you come
back and you bring backresponses to what you're
(11:47):
listening to be very effectiveand be very mindful what it is
we're trying to do.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
You made a couple of good points that I want to just
tie to One.
You know relationships overtime, being present, being
present in the community, beingpresent with people.
It's not mistakenly why I thinkpeople think you're a minister,
because I think a lot of thework that you do is ministry.
When you talk about listening,you talk about then responding
(12:15):
and then trying to provide alevel of care not only for that
family but also for thatfamily's loved one, I think is
substantial, because people arewhat they see, and what they see
is someone that has high esteemfor the community, lifts people
up, makes it easier, I think,to develop a level of trust.
(12:38):
So when that time comes noteven just when that time comes,
even prior to that time come togive you a phone call.
What do I need to plan for?
What do I need to think about,be thinking about and getting
ready for that, because we all Imean we all got to go that way.
I mean it's inevitable.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
The conversation we have to have is what final
disposition is?
What do you want to transpirewith your humanly earthly
remains once you've beencelebrated?
Okay, once you've beencelebrated, okay.
So what I come to in thisconversation in the
African-American community isyou got to communicate options.
(13:20):
See, in the early to mid-90s,cremation was reserved for two
sides Someone who wasquote-unquote poor or homeless
in the Black community, that'sit.
That's quote-unquote.
Poor in the black community,that's it.
That is quote unquote.
Poor in the black community,that's it.
Or homeless, and homeless evenrolled down to individuals who
(13:43):
were living in nursing homes,who didn't have family members.
So it would just be they don'thave anybody, that's it.
It's going to be a cremation.
And when I started in theindustry, we had maybe two or
three cremations a year Period.
That was it.
(14:09):
So what I've learned a littlefurther is that when I can
express to a family, we can doall of the traditional things we
would normally do and once thatservice is complete, instead of
us going to the cemetery, thefamily will go and celebrate
further, be it a repass orfamily gathering, etc.
Quite often get a response youcan do that, yes, because we as
a community don't understandfinal disposition.
(14:30):
We don't understand whatclosing out really looks like If
we're not in a funeralprocession on our way to Trice
Hill, hillcrest, arlington, etcetera, places that are germane,
oklahoma city for those who arenot from here, those spaces
that we're accustomed to goingto.
When given those options, thefirst thing I see a family's
(14:53):
face do is relax, because we allfeel an obligation to honor our
dead.
That's ingrained in our DNAfrom Africa.
That's what we do.
We honor this life.
We escort that spirit on to thebeyond right.
(15:14):
But we have been so.
Funeral service, as in mostthings of service, now tied so
deeply with finances that thefirst question I get quite often
I receive on average 18 to 25calls a week with this question
what's the cheapest service yougot and how much is it?
(15:35):
Being an African-Americanfuneral home owner when I when I
dug into the history of it andfound out what role the
mortician played from post-CivilWar to up including this last
presidential election.
But if you look at the history,the African-American funeral
(15:59):
director has always been arespected businessman, slash
leader in his community or hercommunity, excuse me and I took
that to heart when I finallylearned about Mr, I took that to
heart when I finally learnedabout Mr AG Gaston, mr MJ
Edwards you know Mr Black,that's how we call him Mr Black
(16:22):
out of Dallas, texas.
Mr Temple here, the Rothbrothers in Oklahoma City, mr
Bill McKay.
These were strong leaders froma civil rights standpoint, from
an educational standpoint.
A lot of them were huge when itcame to backing education and
the growth of education forAfrican Americans.
But also I found out that if Ican hone in on that a little bit
(16:46):
, it forced me to work on myleadership ability and skills.
Sometimes you just have to stepout there and say here's what
you do and where your backingcomes from is I can stand firm
on something because you, Idon't need you to do something.
I can still go back and fendfor me and my family and my
business.
So if I'm a step out onsomething I see is wrong in
(17:08):
education, I see somethingthat's wrong in the treatment of
children, or I see somethingthat's incorrect that may be
even surrounded from the policedepartment or from policing of
individuals, I feel safe enoughto have outside conversations
because what I'm doing.
Safe enough to have outsideconversations because what I'm
(17:38):
doing you can't directly impactthat versus somebody who may be
working for a company whosecompany's community, because the
preacher, the teacher, theundertaker, the lawyer, the
doctor, those five professionsin the African-American
community have always beenprevalent, and so I respect that
a lot.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
I really appreciate that perspective because I think
that's so important for us tounderstand our history and the
role that we play.
I think that's so important forus to understand our history
and the role that we play, notjust in what you do, but who you
are and who you are in thecommunity each and every day.
That makes a big difference.
Yeah, and it counts and itmatters.
So thank you for that.
Christopher J Harrison Sr.
(18:20):
Heavy on the seat Heavy on thesinger.
I'm probably reminding your sonof that often.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
I do Anything else that you want to add as we talk
about your journey before wewrap up that you'd like to leave
with folks out there that areaspiring business owners, been
(18:51):
in business for a while butlistening to this podcast and
and looking for um, someencouragement, um, in business,
you're going to have some upsand downs.
You're going to have somesuccesses and some learning
moments.
Um, failure only becomesfailure when you don't, when you
stop right there.
So you're going to have somesuccesses, You're going to have
some learning moments.
But when you hit that high, thatpinnacle, when you really feel
(19:11):
like you're rocking and rolling,first of all be mindful that
it's not you.
It's the grace that's been putin you, it's the talent that's
been put in you, it's theability that's been put in you.
You didn't create that.
(19:42):
So, for me, I pay homage to myLord for giving me that moment.
But also, when I'm at my height, when I mean everything's
hitting on all cylinders, that'swhen I realized you really
haven't reached the top.
You're simply just beginning.
Because those things that werethose learning moments.
You've probably licked them bynow, because you're finally
moving on it.
So don't think that you'rethere yet.
You're merely just on your way.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Wow, Okay, Chris.
How can people get in contactwith you, find out about your
business?
Maybe they just want to callyou and get some personal advice
.
How?
Speaker 3 (20:11):
do they reach out to you?
How do people get in contactwith you?
So I'm going to work backwards.
I do have social media.
It's Christopher J Harrisonfrom Facebook, or I think I'm Mr
Undertaker on Tik TOK.
I'm getting there.
Um, mr Undertaker on Instagram,I do know that and on Tik TOK.
(20:32):
So, yeah, that's right.
Um, but I'm Chris Harrison,here in Oklahoma city heritage
funeral directors.
Uh, four zero five, four two,four, 50, 100.
Uh, as I do with any of myfamilies, this is not lost on
anybody.
My direct cell phone number is405-514-7007.
(20:53):
Anybody can call me.
Anybody can shoot me a textmessage.
I'm going to respond.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
And that's awesome.
Well, chris, thank you so much.
I will say this and for ourlistening audience out there,
podcast world, you know, if youare looking for to be inspired,
encouraged, um, you know, chrisjust gave his cell phone number.
Um, he's on all social mediachannels his business, but also
as a community leader, and so,man, thank you so much for being
(21:19):
here uh, giving me anopportunity.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
opportunity and this platform and this spotlight man,
and personally, on behalf of myfamily, thank you for allowing
us to serve your family over theyears as well.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Absolutely.
We appreciate that, appreciateeverything that you do.
All right, stay tuned for ournext episode.
We will see you next time.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Thanks for joining Three Keys for your Journey.
Journey tune in next time foranother episode.
Are you ready to unlock your potential?
Tune in to Three Keys for yourJourney podcast, where business
owners share invaluable insightsand empowering strategies to
guide you towards success.
Based in Oklahoma City, ourhost, greg T Jones, will inspire
and motivate you every week.
Get ready to join ourconversation as we build
(00:32):
community together.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
All right, we got Chris Harrison Heritage Funeral
Home and Cremation Services,based out of Oklahoma City City,
live on the podcast.
Thank you, sir, for being heretoday.
Good evening, thank you forhaving me.
I'm glad to have you.
Oh my gosh, chris, this is atreat man, we go back a number
of years and, man, to have youhere on the podcast is quite
(01:01):
wonderful.
I just had a flashback is quitewonderful.
I just had a a flashback.
Um, your son and I my sonsplayed little league basketball
together with coach johnny,coach johnny man, wow felt like,
uh, that's been only a fewyears ago, but man time does go
by fast, you've got a collegefreshman Second semester,
(01:26):
freshman Wow, yes, man.
Yes, OK, Chris.
Most people on the podcast arelistening audience.
They don't know Chris Harrisonis, so I always start out with
tell us introduce yourself toour listening audience.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
OK, and you refer to me as Chris Harrison, but my
official name, of course, and mylegal name is Christopher John
Harrison, senior.
I always say heavy on thesenior, but I do ask that
everybody just call me Chris.
Born and raised in NortheastOklahoma city, I'm a product of
Millwood public schools,Educated In Arkansas, played a
(02:06):
little college football,Oklahoma State University as
well, wrapped up my undergrad inmortuary science and funeral
service education, went on toget an MBA.
In the process of working herein Northeast Oklahoma City one
of the oldest funeral firms,Royal Funeral Home, I was able
to meet a young lady by the nameof Christy Pendleton and
(02:26):
shortly thereafter we dated, gotmarried, had a family and we're
what?
20?
This is year 27.
Wow, that's something elseinteresting about us.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
We share the same years of being married.
98 was a wonderful year.
Speaker 1 (02:41):
It was a great year.
It was a great year.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
And you have a wonderful wife, christy as well,
thank you.
Speaker 3 (02:46):
And so our oldest I'm a dad of two Oldest is Jaquia
Monet.
The youngest, of course, wouldbe Christopher Jr.
We affectionately refer to himas Deuce.
This will be year 30 for me inthe funeral service industry.
In the funeral service industrythis will be year 19 as an
(03:06):
owner, and you know I enjoycivic organizations.
I served on several boards.
I was elected to the schoolboard, millwood Public School
Board, served three terms, 15years, charted a little path
politically, ran for House ofRepresentatives here in Oklahoma
City as well as city council.
(03:27):
I often say they weren't themost successful runs because I
didn't win the seat, but theconnections that were made from
me being a candidate have beeninvaluable and I feel like I've
served my community quite a bitbetter from these other
positions.
Not to say that I don't havepolitical ambitions I think
that's something that stickswith you if you really care
(03:48):
about it but currently I enjoywhat I'm doing, and growing our
business is something thatChristian and I really want to
concentrate on here in the verynear future.
Speaker 2 (04:00):
To tell us a little bit about the business itself.
So tell us a little bit aboutthe business itself.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
Heritage Funeral Home and Cremation Service is now
going into, like I said, year 19.
Our rebrand is Heritage FuneralDirectors and Four Points
Cremations, funeral service andnow embracing the need for
cremation services, not only inNortheast Oklahoma city or in
(04:26):
the black community, but in theOklahoma city community as a
whole.
It's really a growing sector ofpeople who are choosing
cremation as their finaldisposition following services.
So we really want to be able tocater to those who are
traditional and non-traditionalbut, more importantly, continue
(04:49):
to offer services a bit moreaffordable than what is going on
in our surrounding area.
And that can be a challenge.
Work hard enough with yourvendors and those who you use to
help serve one another.
You can find some costeffective ways to pass some
benefits on the families, andthat's that's just a personal
(05:11):
preference that Chrissy and Ihave.
We choose to use that approach,and so we are right here in the
heart of Northeast Oklahoma city, northeast 13th and Lottie.
This, this area, hastransitioned, I know, four or
five times over the last 50years, if you will, and so it's
seeing a resurgence, it's seeinga renaissance.
(05:33):
There's still some areas thatneed to have a little clean
white paint put on them, if youwill, but I shared with my wife
last week.
If anybody asked me about wherewe are and where we choose to
work, I tell them I'm doublingdown on Northeast Oklahoma City.
I believe in it.
So that's kind of us in anutshell.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Well, thanks for sharing that One.
It's great to get a goodperspective not only of yourself
, but some of the things thatyou've been involved in,
particularly as it relates toyour family.
Obviously, our podcast isaround keys along your journey,
and so I've asked all of ourguests you know, as you think
(06:13):
back over the many years ofbusiness, family man, community
man you even talked about makingthose political opportunities
or runs what are some of thethings that at least three
things, things that you canshare with our listening
audience that you would say havebeen keys for your journey.
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Hmm, three keys to the journey.
Um, first, you don't know whatyou don't know, right.
So when you start out, um, beopen to learning what's out
there.
Quite often we feel if we'reprofessionals in something or if
(06:51):
we're very good at something,even a hobby, that we transition
into a business.
We feel like our knowledge baseis strong enough to carry us.
And so what you're not knowing,what you don't know, you can
tune out some of the helpfulthings that will help, that will
get you through those roughtimes and those rough moments.
(07:12):
I think that's that's key Rulesand routines.
You just have to have them.
You know there has to be aboundary that you set on
yourself ethically, what I willand just will not do.
And then financially, where'smy breaking point?
(07:36):
You know they say break evenpoint, but for me it's my
breaking point where I just sayI can't do that.
This is, you know, it's doing adisservice to the family as
well as my family.
This is, you know, it's doing adisservice to the family as
well as my family.
And then the routine portion.
I'm just good habits, and notto say that, that I have a ton
(07:58):
of good habits and perfecthabits, but I just kind of chase
me every day.
You know I'm going to be abetter version of me every day.
Some days are better thanothers, but you know that those
rules and routines.
And then, lastly, which probablycould have jumped out first, is
is having some level of faithin what it is you do.
(08:19):
Now you can have faith in God,a deity or whichever and I am a
man of faith when it comes froma Christian walk but faith in
what I do is is is theconfidence that I have to get up
and go and do it every day, butthen the reverence that I have
for what I do every day.
I tell everybody you only haveone time to do this.
You don't have a chance to redoit and sometimes it doesn't go
(08:43):
the way you want it to go, butit's not because you did not
give the effort and have thefaith and the reverence in what
it is you were doing.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
So, as you talk about that, I mean obviously you made
great points in your businessbecause you are dealing with
families and transition ofsomeone they've cared about, a
loved one.
You don't really have theopportunity to do things over
again.
So what are the things thatyou've established in your
business to try to get it rightthe first time?
Speaker 3 (09:19):
One to listen to what they're telling you.
There's a trend in funeralservice now that I'm noticing
where young funeral directorsand some not so young funeral
directors are making theservices about their level of
(09:39):
performance and notoriety.
And that's fine if that is yourstyle, okay, but for me it's
more of.
I'm trying to make this processas simple as possible, because
there's no way to make itpainless.
(10:00):
That's impossible.
But if you can simplify it andBe efficient in the process, you
find that families are more aptto talk to you when you're not
throwing things at them saying,well, here's what we're going to
do, and I don't believe in that.
(10:22):
I believe in listening Firstoff.
Something else I think we'vedone is we decided to be visible
outside of just what we do dayto day in the funeral industry.
There are so many people in thiscity who, after knowing me for
(10:43):
months on end, had no idea thatI was in the funeral industry or
I was an undertaker ormortician.
Well, quite often people thinkI'm a minister, which I think
it's hilarious.
But but it it it's if you, ifyou, can stay vigilant and
visible in your community andabroad, it allows individuals to
(11:04):
feel comfortable with you whenthat time comes, because I don't
want a kid to only remember meas the guy who buried their mom
or their grandmother orgrandfather.
I want them to remember that'sMr Chris who came to my class,
or that's Mr Chris who broughtus bikes, you know, to our Boys
(11:27):
and Girls Club, or you knowsomething along those lines as
well, is something we try tostick with.
And then, lastly, we're workingon not perfected it by no
stretch, but we're working oneffective communication.
You know it's one part tolisten, but then when you come
back and you bring backresponses to what you're
(11:47):
listening to be very effectiveand be very mindful what it is
we're trying to do.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
You made a couple of good points that I want to just
tie to One.
You know relationships overtime, being present, being
present in the community, beingpresent with people.
It's not mistakenly why I thinkpeople think you're a minister,
because I think a lot of thework that you do is ministry.
When you talk about listening,you talk about then responding
(12:15):
and then trying to provide alevel of care not only for that
family but also for thatfamily's loved one, I think is
substantial, because people arewhat they see, and what they see
is someone that has high esteemfor the community, lifts people
up, makes it easier, I think,to develop a level of trust.
(12:38):
So when that time comes noteven just when that time comes,
even prior to that time come togive you a phone call.
What do I need to plan for?
What do I need to think about,be thinking about and getting
ready for that, because we all Imean we all got to go that way.
I mean it's inevitable.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
The conversation we have to have is what final
disposition is?
What do you want to transpirewith your humanly earthly
remains once you've beencelebrated?
Okay, once you've beencelebrated, okay.
So what I come to in thisconversation in the
African-American community isyou got to communicate options.
(13:20):
See, in the early to mid-90s,cremation was reserved for two
sides Someone who wasquote-unquote poor or homeless
in the Black community, that'sit.
That's quote-unquote.
Poor in the black community,that's it.
That is quote unquote.
Poor in the black community,that's it.
Or homeless, and homeless evenrolled down to individuals who
(13:43):
were living in nursing homes,who didn't have family members.
So it would just be they don'thave anybody, that's it.
It's going to be a cremation.
And when I started in theindustry, we had maybe two or
three cremations a year Period.
That was it.
(14:09):
So what I've learned a littlefurther is that when I can
express to a family, we can doall of the traditional things we
would normally do and once thatservice is complete, instead of
us going to the cemetery, thefamily will go and celebrate
further, be it a repass orfamily gathering, etc.
Quite often get a response youcan do that, yes, because we as
a community don't understandfinal disposition.
(14:30):
We don't understand whatclosing out really looks like If
we're not in a funeralprocession on our way to Trice
Hill, hillcrest, arlington, etcetera, places that are germane,
oklahoma city for those who arenot from here, those spaces
that we're accustomed to goingto.
When given those options, thefirst thing I see a family's
(14:53):
face do is relax, because we allfeel an obligation to honor our
dead.
That's ingrained in our DNAfrom Africa.
That's what we do.
We honor this life.
We escort that spirit on to thebeyond right.
(15:14):
But we have been so.
Funeral service, as in mostthings of service, now tied so
deeply with finances that thefirst question I get quite often
I receive on average 18 to 25calls a week with this question
what's the cheapest service yougot and how much is it?
(15:35):
Being an African-Americanfuneral home owner when I when I
dug into the history of it andfound out what role the
mortician played from post-CivilWar to up including this last
presidential election.
But if you look at the history,the African-American funeral
(15:59):
director has always been arespected businessman, slash
leader in his community or hercommunity, excuse me and I took
that to heart when I finallylearned about Mr, I took that to
heart when I finally learnedabout Mr AG Gaston, mr MJ
Edwards you know Mr Black,that's how we call him Mr Black
(16:22):
out of Dallas, texas.
Mr Temple here, the Rothbrothers in Oklahoma City, mr
Bill McKay.
These were strong leaders froma civil rights standpoint, from
an educational standpoint.
A lot of them were huge when itcame to backing education and
the growth of education forAfrican Americans.
But also I found out that if Ican hone in on that a little bit
(16:46):
, it forced me to work on myleadership ability and skills.
Sometimes you just have to stepout there and say here's what
you do and where your backingcomes from is I can stand firm
on something because you, Idon't need you to do something.
I can still go back and fendfor me and my family and my
business.
So if I'm a step out onsomething I see is wrong in
(17:08):
education, I see somethingthat's wrong in the treatment of
children, or I see somethingthat's incorrect that may be
even surrounded from the policedepartment or from policing of
individuals, I feel safe enoughto have outside conversations
because what I'm doing.
Safe enough to have outsideconversations because what I'm
(17:38):
doing you can't directly impactthat versus somebody who may be
working for a company whosecompany's community, because the
preacher, the teacher, theundertaker, the lawyer, the
doctor, those five professionsin the African-American
community have always beenprevalent, and so I respect that
a lot.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
I really appreciate that perspective because I think
that's so important for us tounderstand our history and the
role that we play.
I think that's so important forus to understand our history
and the role that we play, notjust in what you do, but who you
are and who you are in thecommunity each and every day.
That makes a big difference.
Yeah, and it counts and itmatters.
So thank you for that.
Christopher J Harrison Sr.
(18:20):
Heavy on the seat Heavy on thesinger.
I'm probably reminding your sonof that often.
Speaker 3 (18:28):
I do Anything else that you want to add as we talk
about your journey before wewrap up that you'd like to leave
with folks out there that areaspiring business owners, been
(18:51):
in business for a while butlistening to this podcast and
and looking for um, someencouragement, um, in business,
you're going to have some upsand downs.
You're going to have somesuccesses and some learning
moments.
Um, failure only becomesfailure when you don't, when you
stop right there.
So you're going to have somesuccesses, You're going to have
some learning moments.
But when you hit that high, thatpinnacle, when you really feel
(19:11):
like you're rocking and rolling,first of all be mindful that
it's not you.
It's the grace that's been putin you, it's the talent that's
been put in you, it's theability that's been put in you.
You didn't create that.
(19:42):
So, for me, I pay homage to myLord for giving me that moment.
But also, when I'm at my height, when I mean everything's
hitting on all cylinders, that'swhen I realized you really
haven't reached the top.
You're simply just beginning.
Because those things that werethose learning moments.
You've probably licked them bynow, because you're finally
moving on it.
So don't think that you'rethere yet.
You're merely just on your way.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
Wow, Okay, Chris.
How can people get in contactwith you, find out about your
business?
Maybe they just want to callyou and get some personal advice
.
How?
Speaker 3 (20:11):
do they reach out to you?
How do people get in contactwith you?
So I'm going to work backwards.
I do have social media.
It's Christopher J Harrisonfrom Facebook, or I think I'm Mr
Undertaker on Tik TOK.
I'm getting there.
Um, mr Undertaker on Instagram,I do know that and on Tik TOK.
(20:32):
So, yeah, that's right.
Um, but I'm Chris Harrison,here in Oklahoma city heritage
funeral directors.
Uh, four zero five, four two,four, 50, 100.
Uh, as I do with any of myfamilies, this is not lost on
anybody.
My direct cell phone number is405-514-7007.
(20:53):
Anybody can call me.
Anybody can shoot me a textmessage.
I'm going to respond.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
And that's awesome.
Well, chris, thank you so much.
I will say this and for ourlistening audience out there,
podcast world, you know, if youare looking for to be inspired,
encouraged, um, you know, chrisjust gave his cell phone number.
Um, he's on all social mediachannels his business, but also
as a community leader, and so,man, thank you so much for being
(21:19):
here uh, giving me anopportunity.
Speaker 3 (21:21):
opportunity and this platform and this spotlight man,
and personally, on behalf of myfamily, thank you for allowing
us to serve your family over theyears as well.
Speaker 2 (21:28):
Absolutely.
We appreciate that, appreciateeverything that you do.
All right, stay tuned for ournext episode.
We will see you next time.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
Thanks for joining Three Keys for your Journey.
Journey tune in next time foranother episode.
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