Two funeral homes that serve the Upstate community announced their merger in an effort to keep the business family-owned.(Video above: WYFF News 4 Evening Headlines)Gray Mortuary and Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes announced on Wednesday that the two family-owned businesses will merge in an effort to continue their tradition of compassionate care for grieving families, delivering funeral and cremation services to the upstate communities.Over the years, Gray Mortuary, located in Pelzer, South Carolina, and Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, with three locations in Greenville and Simpsonville, have served the Upstate communities in their mission to provide comfort and support during difficult times.The merger ensures that Gray Mortuary will remain family-owned in a period of consolidation the funeral profession has been in since the 1990s, said Jay McAfee, Chief Executive Officer of Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes.”Much of the acquisition has been by large funeral corporations with hundreds of locations nationally and internationally,” Jay McAfee said. “However, some firms choose to remain independently owned and operated.” Jay McAfee added, “We were honored when the Gray family approached us about this opportunity and take the responsibility very seriously to continue to serve this community to the standard set by the Grays.”McAfee stated the merger’s decision was a natural progression and that Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes will now acquire Gray Mortuary, bringing the funeral home’s expertise and resources to the community of Pelzer.Current Gray Mortuary staff members will stay with the firm to provide continuity and a seamless transition to the community, McAfee said. All pre-arrangements made before the merger will continue to be honored as well.“My father, Tuck McAfee, had great respect for Mrs. Mary Lou Gray and appreciated their professional relationship as the two firms served their respective communities. He always felt the two firms shared common values, sensitivity to families’ needs and respect for their loved ones. Now after almost 100 years, the two firms have become one,” Tommy McAfee, president of Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, said.According to the funeral home’s website, the Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes was founded after Thomas McAfee fell ill and his doctors in Atlanta, Georgia, suggested a move to the mountainous Greenville area would help aid his recovery. When Thomas recovered, he opened the company’s first location on South Main Street in 1913.“As we began to develop a plan of succession for our business, we knew that we wanted our legacy to be carried on by another family who would continue to provide the same standard of service as we have throughout the years. The obvious choice for us was Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, as they have provided multi-generational service to Greenville families in a compassionate and professional manner for 111 years,” said Lance Gray, President of Gray Mortuary.Gray Mortuary, Inc. began as the Welborn Funeral Home in the early 1900s and was owned by Walter L. Welborn. The funeral home was operated from the back of the Welborn Furniture Company in Pelzer, South Carolina. Samuel Lee Gray, a funeral director and embalmer from Anniston, Alabama, came to Pelzer to work at the funeral home and purchased it from the Welborn family in 1934, changing the name to Gray Mortuary, Inc, their website said.
Two funeral homes that serve the Upstate community announced their merger in an effort to keep the business family-owned.
(Video above: WYFF News 4 Evening Headlines)
Advertisement
Gray Mortuary and Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes announced on Wednesday that the two family-owned businesses will merge in an effort to continue their tradition of compassionate care for grieving families, delivering funeral and cremation services to the upstate communities.
Over the years, Gray Mortuary, located in Pelzer, South Carolina, and Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, with three locations in Greenville and Simpsonville, have served the Upstate communities in their mission to provide comfort and support during difficult times.
The merger ensures that Gray Mortuary will remain family-owned in a period of consolidation the funeral profession has been in since the 1990s, said Jay McAfee, Chief Executive Officer of Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes.
“Much of the acquisition has been by large funeral corporations with hundreds of locations nationally and internationally,” Jay McAfee said. “However, some firms choose to remain independently owned and operated.”
Jay McAfee added, “We were honored when the Gray family approached us about this opportunity and take the responsibility very seriously to continue to serve this community to the standard set by the Grays.”
McAfee stated the merger’s decision was a natural progression and that Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes will now acquire Gray Mortuary, bringing the funeral home’s expertise and resources to the community of Pelzer.
Current Gray Mortuary staff members will stay with the firm to provide continuity and a seamless transition to the community, McAfee said. All pre-arrangements made before the merger will continue to be honored as well.
“My father, Tuck McAfee, had great respect for Mrs. Mary Lou Gray and appreciated their professional relationship as the two firms served their respective communities. He always felt the two firms shared common values, sensitivity to families’ needs and respect for their loved ones. Now after almost 100 years, the two firms have become one,” Tommy McAfee, president of Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, said.
According to the funeral home’s website, the Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes was founded after Thomas McAfee fell ill and his doctors in Atlanta, Georgia, suggested a move to the mountainous Greenville area would help aid his recovery. When Thomas recovered, he opened the company’s first location on South Main Street in 1913.
“As we began to develop a plan of succession for our business, we knew that we wanted our legacy to be carried on by another family who would continue to provide the same standard of service as we have throughout the years. The obvious choice for us was Thomas McAfee Funeral Homes, as they have provided multi-generational service to Greenville families in a compassionate and professional manner for 111 years,” said Lance Gray, President of Gray Mortuary.
Gray Mortuary, Inc. began as the Welborn Funeral Home in the early 1900s and was owned by Walter L. Welborn. The funeral home was operated from the back of the Welborn Furniture Company in Pelzer, South Carolina. Samuel Lee Gray, a funeral director and embalmer from Anniston, Alabama, came to Pelzer to work at the funeral home and purchased it from the Welborn family in 1934, changing the name to Gray Mortuary, Inc, their website said.
This post was originally published on here
