Woody Porter obit photo

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- The owner of a prominent Louisville funeral home has died.

Family members confirm Woody Porter Jr., owner of the A.D. Porter & Sons Funeral Home, died Monday at Jewish Hospital.

The funeral home was founded by the late Arthur D. Porter Senior. For several years, it was the only locally owned African-American funeral home.

A.D. Porter & Sons Funeral Home serves the Louisville community with two locations, one on West Chestnut Street and the other on Bardstown Road.

A.D. Porter & Sons Funeral Home sign

Woody Porter, owner of the A.D. Porter & Sons Funeral Home, died Monday at Jewish Hospital.

"He was and will always remain a giant in this community," said Sadiqa Reynolds, president & CEO of the Louisville Urban League.

Woodford Porter Jr., affectionately known as "Woody," is being mourned by people across the state. 

"He was philanthropic, he was caring, he was compassionate," Reynolds said.

Porter was also a longtime Urban League board member.

"Woody would call me sometimes, just to say, he never said my name right, in all of our years, he never said my name right," Reynolds said. "He'd say, 'Sadika, baby,' he'd say, 'Sadika, baby, you're doing all right, now.'"

Porter was very passionate about family, friends, and Louisville, where he provided funeral services for thousands of people, including the greatest.

"The fact that the Ali family trusted Muhammad Ali's services to Woody Porter is a testament to Woody Porter's integrity," Reynolds said.

In more than a hundred years in business, the 4th generation funeral home has mostly served the African-American community, but Porter's reputation and integrity transcended race, so even the family of the late Owsley Brown II turned to Porter in times of grief.

"The idea that one of the wealthiest white families in the state would choose Porter to handle Mr. Brown's services, I think speaks volumes about who Woody Porter was," Reynolds said.

He was a respected businessman and philanthropist. Porter donated time and money to local churches, the University of Louisville and Simmons College of Kentucky.

Last year, Porter was honored at Simmons' annual Education is King Awards.  The event highlighted Porter's generosity and commitment to continuing the Porter Scholarship Program, which was started by his parents in 1984.

"I applied to college and I was the recipient of a Porter Scholarship, and so that is what initially brought me to Louisville," said Reynolds.

Meanwhile, despite the tremendous loss, the people Porter left behind are continuing his legacy by working through their grief.

Reginald Glass is a former radio and television executive and longtime family friend. Glass also works part-time at the funeral home and admits coming to work wasn't easy.

"One thing that Woody was always adamant about was superior service," Glass said.

Glass feels confident Porter was preparing his loved ones for this day and would want everyone to continue serving the community.

Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer posted a Tweet on Tuesday morning about Porter's passing:

"Woody Porter, a quiet lion of our great city, will be sorely missed. He led with love, conviction, and caring for all. RIP Woody, a good man I was fortunate to have as a friend."

The mayor later issued a further statement regarding Porter's passing:

"Woody Porter, from the esteemed Porter family lineage, was a brilliant citizen of Louisville, a quiet lion of our great city. The calm in any storm, Woody helped countless people through their most difficult times and led civically with love for all of his city and west Louisville in particular. He led with love, conviction, and caring for all. And his last chapter of work with OneWest will positively shape his beloved west Louisville for decades to come. Woody’s father and mine were good friends and fortunately, Woody and I enjoyed that inheritance with each other. I will miss my brother, my friend. My deepest condolences to Woody’s wife, Suzanne, his children and other family members."

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