Fisher Funeral Home was established by Samuel Fisher, Jr.,
of Suffolk, Virginia in April of 1885 at 312 Effingham Street, Portsmouth, Virginia.
He operated the funeral home for 18 years until his health failed. He also served
as one of three African-American Councilmen for the City of Portsmouth.
His son, John T. Fisher, Sr. was called home from Howard University to oversee
the operation of the funeral home in 1903. Samuel Fisher, Jr., died on
April 20, 1906.
Fisher Funeral Home was operated by John T. Fisher, Sr.,
and his brother, Jesse L. Fisher, until August 1918, when Jesse Fisher entered
the Army. John T. Fisher, Sr. then operated the funeral home for 47 years,
until his death on August 18, 1950. He was succeeded by his children John
T. Fisher, Jr., and Marian Fisher Troy, who operated the business at the same
address until December 1957. John T. Fisher, Jr. attended Eckols College
of Mortuary Science in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and graduated in 1947.
At this time, a modern funeral home was built for $60,000 at 1520 Effingham
Street, Portsmouth, Virginia. Over several years, the funeral home was
enlarged and parking lot for 75 cars was added. Marian Fisher Troy died
on July 10, 1992.
In September 2001, limited renovations were done to the outside structure to
include landscaping, lighted lamp posts and mosaic stained windows. Also,
complete inside restorations were exhibited to facilitate and capture beauty
and extraordinary ambiance. In 2003, an additional two car garage with
side carports were built.
Four generations later, Fisher Funeral Home continues to offer extended services,
including preneed through ASSURANT Preneed, notary publics, cremations, and many other
services to aid community
families.