Losing someone is heavy. It's that thick, suffocating kind of heavy that makes even picking up the phone feel like lifting a mountain. When you're standing in that space, you don't want a corporate flowchart. You want someone who knows your name, your neighborhood, and how your people say goodbye. For a huge chunk of Milwaukee, that someone has been the Leon L. Williamson Funeral Home for over half a century.
But honestly? Most people just see the brown-brick building on 12th Street and think "funeral home." They don't see the decades of Black history baked into those walls or the fact that this place was one of the very few lifelines for African-American families during a time when many white-owned businesses simply wouldn't open their doors to them.
The Story Behind the Brick on 12th Street
Let's get the facts straight. The building at 2157 N. 12th St. wasn't always the Williamson home. It actually started as the Raasch Funeral Home back in 1919. If you look closely at the top of the building today, you can still see "RAASCH" etched into the stone. It’s a Neoclassical piece of architecture with some serious history.
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Lamar Williamson, the man who started it all, didn't just stumble into this. He graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago and opened his first spot in a residence on North 7th Street back in 1950.
By 1960, he’d outgrown it. He moved the operation to the current 12th Street location, and it quickly became a cornerstone. At the time, it was one of only three African-American-owned funeral homes in the entire city. Think about that for a second. In a city as big as Milwaukee, only three places truly understood the "Homegoing" tradition—the music, the energy, the specific cultural weight of a Black funeral.
Who’s Running the Show Now?
Today, it's still a family affair. Leon L. Williamson is the president, and Mary Williamson handles the CFO side of things. It's one of those rare Milwaukee institutions that hasn't been swallowed up by a massive national conglomerate. That matters. When you call, you aren't hitting a call center in another state; you're talking to people who actually live in the community.
- Address: 2157 N. 12th St., Milwaukee, WI 53205
- Phone: 414-374-1812
- Key Staff: Leon L. Williamson (President), Mary Williamson (CFO), and Cassandra A. Winters (Funeral Director).
What Does a Modern Funeral Actually Cost?
Nobody likes talking about money when they’re grieving, but let’s be real: funerals are expensive. According to recent data, a traditional full-service burial at Leon L. Williamson Funeral Home can run around $9,760.
If you’re looking at cremation, a full service with all the trimmings is about $7,220, while a direct cremation—no service, just the essentials—is closer to $2,135. It's a lot of money, but it’s pretty much in line with what you’d pay anywhere else in the metro area. The difference is the level of "hand-holding" you get.
The "Homegoing" Difference
You've probably heard the term "Homegoing." It’s more than just a funeral. It’s a celebration. At Leon L. Williamson, they get the nuances of this. It’s about the open casket adorned with specific fabrics. It's about the choir and the specific hymns that hit a certain way.
I've seen families mention how the staff handles the "reception" or the "repast" after the service. In many cultures, the funeral ends at the cemetery. In the Black tradition, the meal afterward is where the real healing starts. The Williamson family coordinates these moving parts—escorts, flowers from local spots like Welke’s Florist, and even the "black car" service—with a level of precision that only comes from seventy years of practice.
Why People Keep Coming Back
It isn't just about the services; it's the reputation. If you look at firms like Northwest Funeral Chapel or Krause, Milwaukee has options. But Williamson has this specific, old-school gravity.
They also operate Paradise Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Services on Appleton Ave. This gives them a reach that covers both the heart of the city and the northwest side.
One thing that often surprises people is their flexibility. You can actually do a lot of the planning by phone or email now. They’ve adapted. They use digital tribute videos and audio systems that would’ve made Lamar's head spin back in 1950. But the core—the empathy—remains the same.
Common Misconceptions
People sometimes think these legacy homes are "stuck in the past." That’s a mistake. They handle:
- Pre-planning: Setting everything up before the need arises (which is honestly the kindest thing you can do for your kids).
- Cremation options: They have a dedicated process for this, ensuring your loved one never leaves their custody.
- Out-of-state transfers: If someone passes away elsewhere but wants to be buried back home in Milwaukee, they handle the logistics.
Actionable Steps for Families
If you find yourself in the position of having to make arrangements, or if you’re just trying to be responsible and plan ahead, here is how you should actually approach it.
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First, don't wait for a crisis. Call them and ask for a General Price List (GPL). By law, they have to give it to you. It lays out every single cost so there are no "hidden" fees later.
Second, check the cemetery requirements. Leon L. Williamson is within 30 miles of three major cemeteries, but each one has different rules about vaults and liners. The funeral directors there know these rules like the back of their hand—ask them specifically about the burial plots at Wisconsin Memorial Park or Graceland.
Lastly, think about the legacy. If you want a specific preacher or a certain type of music, write it down and give a copy to the funeral home. They keep records of these "pre-need" files for years. It takes the guesswork out of a very dark day.
Whether you're looking for a simple cremation or a full-scale, police-escorted procession down 12th Street, the Leon L. Williamson Funeral Home remains a vital part of Milwaukee’s social fabric. It’s more than a business; it’s a witness to the city's history.
To get started with an inquiry or to look up a recent obituary, the most direct route is calling their main line at 414-374-1812 or visiting the facility in person to speak with Leon or Cassandra directly. They can provide a personalized quote based on your specific needs and help navigate the insurance or veterans' benefits that might be available to your family.