Emile O'Bee was regarded as a successful Milwaukee-based business man, and an influential African-American figure. He entered the family business as a mortician, and went on to found O'Bee's Funeral Home, located at 2400 W. Center, where he was owner and president. This property has recently been nominated as a potential addition to the National Register of Historic Places, and the application is currently pending. The O'Bee's family home is located at 2404 W. Center address, and it is assumed they lived right by the business. O'Bee spent his last fifty years in Milwaukee, but was born in Marlon, Alabama; moved to Chicago, Illinois; lived in Omaha, Nebraska; and finally settled in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He married Ernestine Singleton in 1948, and had two children: Emile Jr. and Patricia. After Ernestine gained her mortuary science license, she became his funeral director and was the first woman to serve on the Wisconsin State Board of Examiners for Funeral Directors and Embalmers. The couple worked together for 20 years. O'Bee was known for being a civil rights activist during his early years in Milwaukee, and later became a well-known donor for local civic causes. He was credited with leading some of Milwaukee's first marches for jobs alongside Attorney James Dorsey, and was a lifelong member of the NAACP. O'Bee also retained involvement in Blazing Star Lodge No. 4, a black private organization. Both his career and personal life were directly impacted by urban renewal and he had relocated five times as a result. The first business location was at N. 5th, then N. 7th and W. Reservoir, the 600 block of W. Walnut, N. 12th, and finally N. 24th and W. Center. Due to his influential status in the black community, many civil rights activist had hosted their funeral services here, such as Leroy Simmons and Isaac Coggs, although these examples were hosted in 1973--ten years after Emile's death.
Source: Wisconsin Historical Society

Contributor: Anita Pietrykowski (4921277)