‘We’ve never had something like this’
Funeral home coordinates visitations, services for 10 fire victims
901-333-2014
Cameron Hollingsworth loved playing football.
He was a member of the Memphis Raiders team and wore his jersey with fierce pride.
On Friday, the boy and his jersey will make one final appearance together, as the jersey is draped over his casket.
Cameron and five of his siblings will be laid to rest alongside their grandmother. The seven perished as a result of a house fire last Monday at their South Memphis home on Severson Avenue.
Three others, his father’s girlfriend, his younger brother and a family friend, will have separate funerals.
“It is such a tragic incident,” said Eddie Hayes, manager at R.S. Lewis and Sons Funeral Home.
R.S. Lewis buried Cameron’s great-grandmother and other family members in years past, so when contacted hours after the Sept. 12 fire, they accepted the call to support the family during this tragedy.
The 103-year-old funeral home is burying the seven children and three adults at no cost.
“Everything from the flowers to the cemetery, they will pay nothing,” Hayes said. “Being in the funeral business is a ministry.”
Hayes and his staff of seven have spent the last week working with the families of the victims to plan their services.
“Each family that comes in is different. It is our job to assist that family,” Hayes said. “I tell people that on any given funeral we may wear several different hats. We may be funeral director, lawyer, banker, referee and counselor.’’
This is the first time that