WS Chronicle

While we’ve seen a major influx of Black-owned businesses and support of these businesses in recent years, the Golden Age of Black Businesses was between 1900 and 1940. The rise of Jim Crow and segregation meant Black people and white people lived in two separate Americas.  

Although the laws were put in place to cripple Black communities, in many ways it led to a boom in entrepreneurship in urban communities across the country, including right here in Winston-Salem. The Black entrepreneurs who settled here helped to shape society as we know it today and one of the biggest contributors to that was Carl H. Russell, Sr.  

A native of Davie County and educated in the Winston-Salem public schools, after high school Russell graduated with honors from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, before attending the University of Minnesota School of Embalming.  

After returning to Winston-Salem, Russell purchased the equipment he needed from a funeral home in Virginia that went out of business. And in October 1939, he opened Russell Funeral Home in a small building on E. 7th Street. The business later moved to Ninth St., before eventually settling at its current location, 822 Carl Russell Ave.  

In the early years, Russell Funeral Home also operated an ambulance that served the Black community. Russell’s daughter, Carmen, said she vividly remembers her father leaving the house at all hours of the day and night to retrieve bodies and comfort families.   

“When he got that death call, he would leave right away. Sometimes while at the table eating dinner, he would get a call and he would leave his plate right there and go,” Carmen said. “That’s what you have to do in this business; even today you have to do it.”  

Just six years after he started the funeral home, Russell set his sights on a new goal. In 1945 he started the city’s first Black newspaper, The People’s Spokesman. The paper was touted as ‘The Voice of the Negro in Winston-Salem.’ For many years Russell also hosted a popular gospel show on WAAA radio. He used the radio show to keep listeners informed and engaged. Whether it be about community events or voting registration, Russell was a man of the people.  

From 1961 to 1977 Russell served on the Winston-Salem Board of Alderman (now City Council). He also served as Mayor Pro Tem in the absence of Mayor Morris C. Benton. Russell was very passionate about making sure Black people had every opportunity to succeed. He championed higher wages for Black workers, better living conditions, and opportunities for education.  

“He was very passionate about the Black community and how we were treated. He wanted better housing, better jobs, even better road conditions in Black neighborhoods. He really fought for the Black community at City Hall and people really respected him for that,” Carmen said.  

In 1977 Russell came close to being named Winston-Salem’s first Black mayor.  

At the time, Democratic incumbent Franklin R. Shirley suffered a stroke and decided not to seek re-election. Although Russell had served on the Board of Alderman for 16 years, he was not the favorite to succeed Shirley and represent the Democratic Party. Instead, many in the party supported Wayne A. Corpening, who was white, and a vice president at Wachovia Bank.  

Corpening had never served on the Board of Alderman but was the chair of the Forsyth County Democratic Party at the time. William Pfefferkorn, a white lawyer, and Cecil Butler, a Black youth counselor, were also vying for the Democratic nomination.  

Results showed that Russell received 5,946 votes, Corpening received 5,883 votes, Pfefferkorn received 4,854 votes and Butler received 701 votes. When word got back to East Winston that Russell had won, a huge celebration was held at the funeral home. The streets were packed with those who had shown up to the polls for Russell, many of whom had voted for the first time.  

“We were there at the funeral home and everybody came out to celebrate that night; I remember it like it was yesterday,” Carmen said.  

The celebration didn’t last long. Corpening immediately called for a runoff. At that time, you had to receive at least 50% of the total vote to be determined the winner. Russell’s margin of victory was less than 40%.  

While Russell was able to defeat Corpening in the primary election with a large turnout of Black voters, he could not overcome the number of new white voters in the runoff that had previously voted for Pfefferkorn. In a final effort to win the mayoral seat, Russell launched a write-in campaign, but he finished in third behind Corpening and the Republican candidate, Hank Lauerman.  

While he did not reach his goal of becoming mayor, Russell left a legacy in the City of Winston-Salem and with the people. He inspired many Black leaders in the community to run for office, like Dr. Larry Little, Virgnia K. Newell, and Vivan Burke. 

Dr. Little, who is the co-founder of the Winston-Salem Chapter of the Black Panther Party, served for eight years as alderman. He was first elected in 1977, the same year Vivian H. Burke and Virginia K. Newell were elected. Dr. Little, who often referred to Russell as “Big Daddy,” said he was his political mentor. Little said he would spend hours at the funeral home just learning about politics and the history of the city.  

“He pushed in a lot of ways to open city government up to Black people. He began to kick the door open, and I think that in 1977 Virginia Newell, Vivan Burke, and I began to kick the door in,” Little continued. “If elected officials today had the commitment that Carl Russell had, we would see development in the heart of our communities like we see in other parts of the city. If there is anyone who has had an impact on this city and the Black community, I know of no one who has had a greater impact than Carl H. Russell.”  

For his commitment to the citizens, a community center was named in Russell’s honor. The Carl H. Russell Community Center is located on Carver School Road. 

Retired District Court Judge Denise Hartsfield said Russell was the unofficial Mayor of East Winston, who was known for speaking out on issues that mattered. 

“The community sought his advice and wisdom on many topics beyond his exceptional business acumen, his artistic and lifelike embalming techniques and a progressional funeral home staff, Mr. Russell was the consulate father, husband and leader, speaking on issues that matter to everyday citizens. A big man with a big heart and voice in Winston-Salem.”