Death is part of the job: Estes Funeral Chapel’s Tracy Wesley pushes on during COVID; community killings

By Harry Colbert, Jr., editor-in-chief

Dealing with death is hard. 

Now imagine how hard it is when it’s your business amid a spat of violent killings during a deadly global pandemic, nonetheless. Add the trauma of being a Black man handling the services of young Black men killed by police and it’s all in a day’s work. 

Such is life for Tracy Wesley, CEO and funeral director of Estes Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services, 2201 Plymouth Ave.  Wesley said the past 18 months have been particularly trying on him, his staff and the community. 

“I’ve had several families that have had multiple members who died of COVID and that’s been tough,” said Wesley. “You’re seeing one family member (die) then a month later you’re called about another (dying). They are still grieving from the previous death and here’s another. That’s tough. One is hard enough, but two and three – that’s unimaginable.” 

Wesley said Estes had adapted to operating during the era of the coronavirus, but it took time to adjust. In the early days of the outbreak that has killed nearly three-quarters of a million people in the U.S. and just shy of 9,000 in Minnesota, funeral homes, like most other public businesses were ordered closed. That meant a backlog of bodies awaiting a proper memorial. 

Tracy Wesley of Estes Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services is navigating the community losses due to violence and COVID. Photo by Harry Colbert, Jr. 

“Back then (at the onset of the pandemic) no one knew what to do. We got the order from the governor, and we had to basically close down to the public,” said Wesley. “We were still receiving deceased individuals, but we couldn’t hold services. And of course, people were still dying … dying of the coronavirus. We were inundated with people passing from COVID. It was quite an ordeal.” 

After a few weeks, funeral homes were allowed to host services of five people, then 10, 20 and 50. Wesley said it was not until the fall of last year Estes was allowed to have in-person services of 100 people. Today it is operating at full capacity – a move that didn’t come until spring of this year. 

With in-person constraints, Estes relied on technology to service its clients. Having recently moved into its newly constructed building, the funeral home had wi-fi cameras installed in the chapel prior to the pandemic. 

“In that aspect we were ahead of most. A lot of other funeral operators were scrambling to get up and running in with video services, but we were able to transition without a problem,” said Wesley. 

While Wesley has become accustomed to caring for those who have passed due to COVID, he said what hasn’t and won’t become accustomed to is caring for the onslaught of youth who have been lost due to senseless gun violence.  

“How have we failed? That’s the question I ask when I have to bury one of these babies. It makes me angry. It saddens you,” said the funeral director. 

Anger is also felt by the funeral director when he reflects upon lives lost due to police violence. That emotion can be seen on the wall of Wesley’s office where a picture hangs of he and one of his officiants holding high a clinched fist during the processional for slain Jamar Clark, 24, killed in 2015 by Minneapolis police officers. In addition to handling the services for Clark, Estes handled the services of George Floyd and Daunte Wright – also killed by area police. 

Tracy Wesley (left) with fist raised during the processional of Jamar Clark in 2015. Clark was killed by Minneapolis Police. Photo courtesy of Tracy Wesley

Founded by Richard Estes in 1962, the chapel is in its third iteration along Plymouth Avenue. Owned by Richard Estes wife, April Estes, Wesley – the nephew of Estes – runs the day-to-day operations of the business. And while the leadership has evolved, what remains is the commitment to the community and the Northside.

“The community has supported us throughout. Being on the Northside we (many members of the community) don’t have the same economic resources, but when a loved-one passes, they still need to be honored,” said Wesley. “We always work to honor them regardless.”