Black-owned funeral homes adapt for virus, serve communities Ileana Najarro, Tampa Bay Times Associated Press Tags: An Associated Press member exchange story from the Tampa Bay Times. TAMPA, Fla. – For the first time since 1990, Jeffrey Rhodes has told families that the Ray Williams Funeral Home was booked for the weekend. Many churches are not allowing funerals this year due to coronavirus pandemic safety measures. Rhodes, like other Black funeral directors across Florida and the country, has been relying on graveside or chapel services which have fewer time slots available on weekends ― which families prefer ― making it hard to accommodate all families at once.