After Nearly 70 Years, Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary Announces Its Closure

By San Diego Monitor News Staff

One of San Diego’s most storied Black-owned institutions has announced it will close its doors after nearly seven decades of service. Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary, a cornerstone of Southeast San Diego since 1955, shared the news in an emotional statement to the community on its official Facebook page Tuesday.

“After serving this community since 1955, it is now time to officially announce OUR homegoing,” the message began. The announcement came just hours after the mortuary served its final family on November 25, marking the end of an era defined by compassion, cultural stewardship, and generational trust.

For almost 70 years, Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary stood as a pillar in San Diego’s Black community, caring for families during life’s most difficult moments. The mortuary became synonymous with dignity, attention to detail, and what they described as a “mark of elegance and sophistication that ONLY the Anderson Ragsdale Mortuary and staff could provide.”

Their announcement reflected on decades spent walking beside families through grief and transition. “We were entrusted with your loved ones, their life stories, their final earthly tributes,” the statement read. “Please know that the trust that was placed in our hands was not taken lightly.”

Over the years, the staff forged deep ties with generations of San Diegans—parents, children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren—each family returning because of the mortuary’s unmatched personal touch. They recalled sharing “quiet conversations, confidences, tears, loving memories, and even laughter” as they helped honor the lives of countless community members.

The closure of Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary marks more than the loss of a long-standing business; it signals the departure of a cultural institution that shaped the fabric of San Diego’s Black history. The mortuary played a vital role in commemorating community leaders, faith figures, activists, and everyday residents with care that extended beyond a transaction—into ministry. “You allowed us to become part of your lives by supporting our ministry of funeral service through our many years of dedication and faithfulness,” the staff wrote. “Those countless memories will stay with us long after our doors close.”

The announcement was signed by Mrs. Ragsdale and team members Sonia, Lena, Candice, Jordan, Leo, Russell, and Angelo—individuals who collectively became part of many San Diego families’ most intimate and emotional moments.

For those with prepaid arrangements through Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary, staff assured that support will continue during the transition. Beginning Monday, December 1, 2025, prearrangement counselors will assist families in transferring policies to other funeral homes. If a policyholder passes before that date, the mortuary recommends contacting Preferred Cremation and Burial at 619-584-7000, which has agreed to honor existing prearrangements.

While the building may close, the mortuary emphasized that its legacy will remain woven into the lives of the families it served.

The statement ended with a heartfelt message of thanks: “From the bottom of our hearts to yours, we sincerely thank you for letting us all be part of this community we love so much. We pray we have served well.”

As the community reflects on nearly 70 years of service, the farewell from Anderson-Ragsdale Mortuary is a reminder of the lasting impact of institutions built on compassion, faith, and family.