On Monday, the City of Memphis officially designated a section of Scott Street as Noble H. Owens Street, honoring the legacy Owen Funeral Home Founder Noble H. Owens Sr. and his son, Noble H. Owens Jr. — two generations of Black business leaders whose compassion and stewardship will long be remembered in the Binghampton community.
Owens Sr. founded the business in 1912, beginning in a modest house in Binghampton at a time when Black families were forging paths through segregation to carve out neighborhoods and institutions of their own. The funeral home soon became a cornerstone. It hosted an annual community picnic, provided food during holidays, and, when needed, offered services to families who could not afford to pay.
Their guiding belief emerged as the motto that defined the work: “Serving with compassion, dignity and excellence.”
A family rooted in service
Born in 1918, Noble H. Owens Jr. learned the business beside his father and absorbed its mission early. When Owens Sr. died in 1967, Jr. stepped forward to lead the funeral home, maintaining its reputation as a trusted community anchor and extending its reach as Memphis grew and changed.
In 1983, Owens Jr. received the Tennessee State Funeral Directors and Morticians Association Memorial Award and recognition from the Tennessee House of Representatives for his service, a rare acknowledgment for a neighborhood funeral director who had spent his life honoring others. He passed away later that year.
His wife, Laura Owens, then carried the family’s torch, running the funeral home for the next 31 years. Under her care, the Owens name remained synonymous with steadiness and compassion. The business never left the street where it began and neither did the trust of its community.
Today, the legacy endures under their daughters, Cheryl Owens and DeNobra “Dena” Owens. The sisters represent the third generation of leadership, continuing more than 112 years of service.
A legacy enshrined
The section of street renamed Noble H. Owens Street runs between Broad Avenue and Nathan Avenue, steps from the business the family has nurtured across eras defined by Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement and modern Memphis.
City Councilman Dr. Jeffrey Warren read the resolution honoring Noble H. Owens Sr. and Noble H. Owens Jr., noting their contributions to Binghampton and to Black entrepreneurship in the city.
“A business that has stood this long deserves to be remembered and recognized,” said Warren.
In her remarks, Dena Owens said, “When young people see this street sign, we want them to ask, Who were the Owens men? What did they do? We hope they feel inspired to dream, work hard and build something that lasts. Entrepreneurship allowed our family to serve and uplift others, and we want the next generation to see that possibility for themselves.”
She closed jokingly, saying, “And we don’t want to see you at the funeral home too soon. Take care of your health!”
For Cheryl Owens, the moment held both pride and gratitude.
“This is deeply emotional for us. To drive down this street and see my grandfather’s and father’s names on the very road where one built the business and the other carried it forward means everything,” she said. “They poured their hearts into Binghampton. This sign enshrines their legacy and stands as a symbol of their love for this neighborhood and for Memphis.”
Following the unveiling, Dena Owens reflected on the meaning of the occasion.
“This was a true ‘pinch me’ moment for my family, Owens Funeral Home staff and Binghampton residents,” she said. “The honor gives hope that good people who were born to serve others will always have a place in history.”
From a small house to a city-recognized landmark, the Owens family’s work endures not only on a street sign but in a neighborhood and a city they helped build and uplift.
