Annie Mae Manigault

Annie Mae Manigault Hurley (1907 - 1976), graduated from the Renouard School of Embalming in New York City, and then began her fifty-year career by working with her parents (Annie Rivers and William Manigault) in the Manigault Funeral Home in Columbia, South Carolina.

In 1917, William and Annie Manigault (Annie Mae's parents) helped found the Manigault-Gaten-Williams Funeral Home, in Columbia, South Carolina. In 1923, the funeral home was renamed Manigault's Funeral Home. Both William and Annie were funeral directors and worked hard to serve families in need during a time when it was not easy for African American people to be in business.

Annie and William also founded the Congaree Casket Company, which employed more blacks during that time than any other black-owned business in South Carolina.

In the early 1950’s, William and Annie's daughter, Anna Mae, took over the family business, which she ran along with her son, Anthony.

Today, the Manigault-Hurley Funeral Home is run by Anthony Manigault Hurley, Alice Wyche Hurley, Michelle Manigault Hurley Johnson, and Kelly Lynn Hurley.

Sources: Richard S. Roberts, Photographer; University of South Carolina