Celebrating the Legacy of Kenneth Walley
In 1957, Kenneth Walley opened the Walley Funeral Home on Calvert Street in Chestertown, achieving his high school ambition of becoming a mortician. As the first Black mortician and embalmer in Kent County, Mr. Walley served his community with care and compassion, operating his business for decades out of a modest building that today stands on the property of KCPL's Chestertown branch.
After many years of serving as a meeting space, the building closed to the public due to a need for major repairs. Thanks to FY24 grant funding through the Maryland Heritage Areas Grant Program, the structure has been renovated and is ready to reopen for use!
KCPL invites you to celebrate the revitalization of the building and the legacy of the Walley Funeral Home. Join us to tour the building, learn its history as the location of a deeply respected and long-standing Black-owned business, and pay tribute to the rich heritage of the Walley family with Elise Walley (Kenneth's daughter and the current owner of Walley Funeral Service).
Schedule of Events
4-5:30pm Family-Friendly Celebration
- BBQ & Brisket from Phat Daddy's
- Music featuring Karen Sommerville
- Building Tours
- Chesapeake Heartland Exhibit
5:30-6pm Honoring the Legacy
- Blessing of the Building
- KCPL's Executive Director: The Kenneth Walley Memorial Garden & Other Visions for the Future
