Historic Clayborn Temple Burns

We had a tragedy this week in Memphis when Clayborn Temple burned down. I covered the fire for Associated Press.

The historic Clayborn Temple, a landmark from the civil rights movement with ties to Martin Luther King, caught fire Monday, April 28, 2025, in Memphis, Tennessee.

As a photojournalist in Memphis, I have had to cover many painful things over the years. There is nothing like hearing the wailing and mournful cries of people in pain at a news scene. It stays with you forever. It can be hard to pick up my camera and document it. But I do. As I explained to someone this week, just as important as showing the burning building, as a storyteller, I need to show that this isn’t just a building; this building meant something to people. Sharing and showing the grief and pain of the people who came to the scene helps people see how important and sacred this place is.

Sadyya Rockett-Miller and her husband Andre LeMoyne Miller prayed their way through their grief and anger outside of the historic Clayborn Temple on Monday. Andre is asking God to help him and deliver him some peace. Miller’s father had a connection to the Civil Rights Movement and Clayborn Temple.

The neighborhood folks worshiping at Clayborn Temple over the years.

Carolyn Michael-Banks, founder of A Tour of Possibilities in Memphis, Tn. gives black history-focused tours. I did a story about her and her tours in Memphis Magazine last fall. Clayborn Temple and its history is a highlight of the tour. She reached out to me after the fire and said “ This incident has made me more committed to what I do. If you know the history, fire can’t destroy it. “

https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2024/11/1/a-tour-of-possibilities

The Clayborn Temple has been under renovation for a few years. For more information https://clayborn.org/

CBS NEWS did a nice job covering the story. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tennessee-church-fire-mlk-civil-rights/

Warren Lewis "Fire Barber" Dies

Warren Lewis, the barber made famous by cutting people’s hair with flames, died earlier this month at age 90.

There are people who have made my time in Memphis really fun, Lewis was one of them.

Memphians are often blessed with unusual characters and entrepreneurs that have made our city famous.

Mr. Lewis has been seen on national TV showing off his talent on late-night TV and all over the world.

 He grew up with very little, in a shack in Mississippi. As a child, he was given the chore of burning the small feathers off chickens that the family was going to eat for dinner. That is what gave him the idea to cut hair with fire.

He had his own shop in North Memphis most of his life. It burned down once. He eventually worked out of another shop in his later years.

 “I ain’t set but one man on fire since I’ve been doing hair, one!” he told me giggling.

 He was cutting hair until three weeks before he died.

Mr. Lewis always liked the job security, saying “Hair will steady grow. I love my job with a passion,”  he said, “I’d do it all over again.”

Below is a gallery of some photos I have taken of him over the years. Including one when he came to one of my photo shows and signed autographs for people.

Rest in Peace my friend.

Below is a link to a story I did about him for the Commercial Appeal when I worked there.

https://www.karenpulferfocht.com/blog/2014/7/30/warren-lewis-and-his-flaming-fro

Below is an old video of did of Lewis cutting hair over a decade ago.

By Karen Pulfer Focht ©2023