Notably known as the first Black American in Spartanburg to conduct the only Black Undertaking service available at the time. Woodward left Spartanburg, arriving in New York in 1918 to muster out with the 803rd Pioneer Infantry. The 803rd Pioneer Infantry were primarily a non-combat unit responsible for engineering and logistic work in France. While not only bringing Jazz to France performing at m
ilitary ceremonies and local communities. They played a crucial role in handling the remains of fallen soldiers. The 803rd Pioneer Infantry during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive which lasted September 26, 1918-November 11,1918 stayed right behind the active combat units. Repairing destroyed infrastructure, providing any logistical support and burying soldiers left in the field. Soldier's who wouldn't get proper burials until the agreement to end the war was signed on November 11,1918. With his abundance of experience from both his father and his time in the war, he decided return to New York after beginning a family to established his own business in 1927. He and his family set up roots in the Bedford Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn, New York, where he worked out of 1732 Fulton Street as an Undertaker and remained there until 1947. With the Great Migration Bedford Stuyvesant was growing along with Mr. Woodward's business. He decided to follow the example of his father and purchased a building on Schenectady Avenue. At 18 Schenectady Avenue, he dedicated the the ground floor and the second floor as the new location for business. Woodward along with Mrs. Juliete Woodward his wife, became familiar faces throughout the community often being seen at church and civic functions. Sadly in June of 1960 Mr. Woodward passed and Mrs. Woodward needed a licensed funeral director to manage the funeral home. Thompson was employed at Hurd's Funeral Home located at 10 Troy Ave when Mrs. Woodward offered him a managerial position at the Lawrence H. Woodward Funeral Home in 1961. Thompson, worked for Mrs. Woodward as she maintained her husbands business as the President of the company. Thompson become the lead funeral director and manager until her passing in 1966. Thompson saw an opportunity to continue the legacy of the funeral home and was able to purchase the funeral home from Mrs. Woodward's' daughter's after her passing in 1966. He would keep the name, Lawrence H. Woodward out of the respect to the history of Woodward Family in both Brooklyn and in Spartanburg. In the late 1960's plans for urban renewal came to Bedford-Stuyvesant Mr. Thompson became a fixture at all meetings involving upcoming improvements to the area, eventually becoming the chairman of the Fulton-Herkimer Development Corp. With the construction of the new Boy and Girl's High School in the plans, the Lawrence H. Woodward Funeral Home at 18 Schenectady Ave, would have to move. He knew this would be an excellent opportunity to create a one of a kind funeral parlor in the community. Working alongside the legendary Jackie Robinson who established the Jackie Robinson Construction Corp. He was very passionate about creating affordable housing for his people. With the assistance of Mr. William Hayden Regional Director for the New York State Urban Development Corp (UDC), and The Fulton-Herkimer Development Corporation, the Smith-Woodward Plaza was designed, constructed and supported by local Black American business persons and community organizers along with current residents of the community. Thompson, as the chairman of the Fulton-Herkimer Development Corp wanted the Lawrence H. Woodward Funeral Home to remain in the community and sought out signatures from neighbors living in the area to gain support to build what would become the new Lawrence H. Woodward Funeral Home. Thompson chose to build just up the street on Troy Ave. He had a dream, a one of a kind facility built with one purpose; to be a funeral home. At the time funeral homes in the city were akin to storefront's. They couldn't accommodate large families, had no casket selection room and almost no funeral home had a parking facility. The new location at One Troy Ave was the first funeral establishment in Brooklyn, constructed, designed and owned by Black Americans. Robinson was unable to see his construction company complete the funeral home, He passed on October 24, 1972, at the young age of 53. The Smith-Woodward Plaza, Boy's and Girl's Highschool, and the Fulton Park Plaza projects would be completed under the leadership of Mrs. Rachael Robinson, Mr. Robinson's widow. The company was then reincorporated to become what is now known as the Jackie Robinson Foundation. On September 20 1975, the new Lawrence H. Woodward Funeral Home was dedicated and blessed by Dr. Hylton L. James of the historic Berean Baptist Church. On September 25, 1975 the doors opened under the ownership of Melvin D. Thompson and the Thompson Family. This September 2026 will be our 99th Year within the community. Woodward funeral home still remains in the Thompson Family ownership since 1966 and we look forward to turning 100 September 2027.
