History & Staff

Our History

In 1962 Richard C. Estes opened Estes Funeral Chapel, Inc., with the hopes of being able to service African American families in their time of grief and loss. He found and purchased a building at 1401 Plymouth Avenue North and Estes Funeral Chapel began. At the time Mr. Estes started his journey, white owned funeral establishments typically did not accept the loved one's coming from African American families and if they did Mr. Estes would receive a phone call to ask for either his assistance and/or advice on the technique to prepare the bodies.

Mr. Estes desire was to be able to not only serve the black community, but the community at large and people from all races, creeds, color and religious backgrounds with the dignity and respect that they deserved, despite their lack of stature and in many cases, financial circumstances.

From 1962 until 1986, Estes Funeral Chapel served clients at its chapel on 1401 Plymouth Avenue North in the original building purchased. In 1985 Mr. Estes secured a loan and began work on a new funeral facility located at 2210 Plymouth Avenue North and now we continue our journey of serving those families who choose to call upon us for our service at our state of the art facility located at 2201 Plymouth Avenue North.

In his 51 years as a funeral director, Mr. Estes saw two nieces complete their studies at the University of Minnesota Mortuary Science Department as well as his nephew, Tracy E. Wesley who completed his mortuary science degree at Kansas City Kansas C.C. At the time of his passing Richard Estes' legacy of funeral service was cemented in not only the North Minneapolis community, but the city of Saint Paul and the surrounding communities as well.

As we continue to move forward in our service to the community, we ask that you pray for us as we remain on the pursuit to give the absolute best funeral service this city has seen, we want to help families honor their loved one's with compassion, dignity and a humble spirit, which is what Richard Estes and Estes Funeral Chapel is all about.