black heritage

Shawn J. Stradford, Sr. was born and raised with his 4 siblings Wendell Stradford, Dr. Terrance Stradford, Brandon Stradford and Rhema Stradford in the West Brighton section of Staten Island, and Proud Father to Shawn J. Stradford II.  His parents are Mr. Rudolph and Rev. Yvonne Stradford. He is a graduate of Susan E. Wagner High School and the University of The District of Columbia (HBCU), with a degree in Mortuary Science, he excelled in his embalming class so much that his professors had him to teach the class on many occasions. After graduating he has been invited to his alumni to lecture to the students. He is licensed in the District of Columbia, certified by the National Board of funeral directors and New York State board certified and licensed New York State Funeral Director.

     He is the 2^nd African American, appointed as a Forensic Medical Examiners Assistant for Nassau County, A position in which he proudly performed over 2000 autopsies in a five-year period before resigning to answer the calling to open Stradford Funeral Home (WWW.StradfordFuneralHome.Com). Formally located in Tompkinsville in 2000 where he and the staff ministered to well over 1600 families during their time of need by tailoring funerals and keeping them affordable and sharing every family’s grief, making an unbearable time just a little bit more bearable.

Shawn has over 20 years of funeral service experience where he has fine-tuned and further developed his natural capabilities for compassion and sympathy in the funeral business.  He also is also the owner of the Stradford Funeral Home, Inc now permanently located at 1241 Castleton Ave. (West Brighton) Staten Island, N.Y. 10310, where he and the staff continue their ministry of funeral service to the community.   (And YES for the record Stradford Funeral Home is still in operation and Only African-American owned and Absolutely separate and independent from any funeral home in Staten Island!). His participation in the community is extensive: He is a member of the Children of Hope Safe Haven Foundation, Liaison for Staten Island; Former member Staten Island African American Political Association; the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. He has participated in many Civic protests over the years, from doing a funeral procession around the North Shore to stop the violence, or standing on the steps of Boro Hall protesting for Police Reform to the protests for Mr. Eric Garner just to name a few. Always fighting for the Civil Rights for our Communities. He is a member of the Empire State Funeral Directors, A member of the National Funeral Directors and Morticians Assoc., A member of The New Jersey State Funeral Directors Assoc., He is a Right Worshipful, District Deputy Grand Master Emeritus for The Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge State of  NY, A Past Master of  Silver Lake Lodge No. 59 the only Prince Hall Masonic Lodge in Staten Island;  Member of The Long Island Consistory No. 61, where he became a 32nd degree Mason; Honorary Past Potentate  of Abu Bekr Temple No. 91 Prince Hall Shriners, The Past Associate Patron of Silver Queen Chapter # 43 Staten Island, Prince Hall Order of Eastern Stars (and yes it is the only Prince Hall Chapter on Staten Island).

     A founding member of Occupy the Block North Shore, A former board member of Seaman Society; a board member of the New York Urban League and a member of the New Brighton Citizens Who Care (Community Organization). Currently serving on the Family Life Center (Executive Board Member), Vice President of the Richmond County Black & Minority Chamber of Commerce. Shawn also created The Stradford Family Life Foundation a 501C3 Non-profit organization to assist families to obtain finances for burials and many other Educational, and Mental Health services.  Mr. Stradford is a recipient of numerous Community, Civic and Humanitarian awards most recent was the Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award from the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. After going through the arduous task renovating a Beautiful 11k square foot building for the new Stradford Funeral Home.

     The new facility has a chapel that holds over 250 people, a state-of-the-art memorial and memory room where families may go to peacefully reflect on the lives of there loved ones, with spacious seating and very large waiting areas. Stradford Funeral Home is now one of the larger funeral establishments in seating capacity on the North Shore and parking and handicap capabilities. This will enable him and his caring staff to better serve families. And with all of the new amenities His prices have not gone up, which still allows him to be able to have many creative pricing options for ALL families who are in need of their services.

Emotionally and physically suffering through an unprecedented time of this Horrible Pandemic, Stradford funeral home NEVER turned away any family and also provided Funeral and Memorial services for those who had been turned away by other funeral establishments.

     We all will die one day, so the goal is not to Live forever. But to Create Something that Will. Being Blessed by the Heavenly Father to be put in a position to help my community by extending the Olive Branch of Friendship and True Compassion to all those who need it regardless of their situation is what myself and Stradford Funeral Home dedicate to each and every family. I believe that in order for us have financial stability in our own communities we MUST STOP spending our monies with those who do not care about the issues in our communities and only have a interest in taking our money to build their own communities. When this is accomplished, our communities will become empowered and not taken for granted.                                                                                                                                           May God Bless You All!!