Catchings Funeral Home

Nate Chute/IndyStarBuy PhotoNathan Bluitt Jr. is shown in 2007, standing in front of the old sign for the Williams and Bluitt Funeral home on the corner of 25th Street and Dr. Andrew J. Brown Ave., which was destroyed in a fire in 2006.(Photo: Heather Charles / IndyStar)Buy PhotoA well-known funeral home director was shocked when he was fired from the business carrying his name, and now a group of pastors rallying around him are looking for answers.Second-generation funeral home operator Nathan L. Bluitt Jr., 66, was fired in mid-March. Neither he nor the owners of the Williams & Bluitt Funeral Home, near the Indianapolis Public Library branch on East 38th Street, would elaborate on the circumstances. Both parties cited legal steps underway.What is clear is Bluitt's prominence among people who live in the area."There are two positions that have always been paramount in our community, and that is the black preacher and the black funeral director," Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church's the Rev. Timothy Taylor said. "Nathan Bluitt has been a leader in our community in assisting those in need. Absolutely when all of this occurred it would've been remiss for me and the other pastors not to find out what was going on because losing Nathan Bluitt in this community and at that funeral home would be a travesty."A church alliance:A black pastor and a white deputy bridge racial divideAt the Capitol:Is more school prayer answer to social ills?Next play:WNBA star Tamika Catchings' new job is running a tea shopBluitt had served as director and owner of the funeral home since he bought it in 1992 from Richard Williams of Gary. With no interested family members to follow in his footsteps, Bluitt sold the funeral home to the Wilson Financial Group in 2011, but remained on as director."My firing was not anticipated, and I don't think it was warranted," Bluitt told IndyStar. "I was surprised it was even on the radar."Bluitt said disagreements with the funeral home's owners stemmed from a legal comp... (Indianapolis Star)

More Coverage]] The accident occurred about 12:30 a.m. near Wyoming Avenue, at the border of the Hunting Park and Olney neighborhoods.Police identified the victim as Errol Catchings of Sharon Hill, Delaware County. Public records indicate he may have been living in the city’s Olney section.Police said Catchings was struck by a 2014 Chrysler, then a 2016 Nissan, both heading north in the inner lanes of the Boulevard after he walked off the curb. He was transported by medics in extremely critical condition with massive head trauma to Einstein Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 12:51 a.m.Both vehicles remained at the scene, police said.More CoveragePublished: June 28, 2017 — 2:39 PM EDTThanks for your continued support...We recently asked you to support our journalism. The response, in a word, is heartening. You have encouraged us in our mission — to provide quality news and watchdog journalism. Some of you have even followed through with subscriptions, which is especially gratifying. Our role as an independent, fact-based news organization has never been clearer. And our promise to you is that we will always strive to provide indispensable journalism to our community. Subscriptions are available for home delivery of the print edition and for a digital replica viewable on your mobile device or computer. Subscriptions start as low as 25¢ per day.We're thankful for your support in every way. (Philly.com)