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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GEORGE FUNERAL HOME CENTENNIAL
______
HON. JOE WILSON
of south carolina
in the house of representatives
Monday, July 13, 2020
Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, on July 7th a centennial
celebration was held in Aiken, South Carolina, for the George Funeral
Home. The ceremonies were thoughtfully reported by Dede Biles in The
Aiken Standard on July 8th.
Pictures accompanying the article were ``Several proclamations and
resolutions were presented during the Centennial Celebration at George
Funeral Home and Cremation Center on Tuesday. Pictured are United
States Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., left; South Carolina Rep. Bart
Blackwell, R-Aiken; Aiken City Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tempore
Lessie Price; George Funeral Home owner Cody Anderson; S.C. Rep. Bill
Taylor, R-Aiken; S.C. Sen. Tom Young, R-Aiken; and Aiken County Council
Chairman Gary Bunker, along with photo, ``United States Rep. Joe
Wilson, R-S.C., left, talks to the Rev. Scott Ayers and George Funeral
Home and Cremation Center owner Cody Anderson during George Funeral
Home's Centennial Celebration on Tuesday.''
100 Years of Service
During the George Funeral Home and Cremation Center's
Centennial Celebration on Tuesday in Aiken, three
grandchildren of founder D.M. George were in attendance.
Edward D. George Jr., Johanna Gibbs and Tommy Gibbs served
as bridges between the past and the present.
Edward lived upstairs at the funeral home with his parents,
beginning at the age of 9, and he considered it his residence
until he graduated from Clemson University in 1962.
Edward's cousin, Tommy, would play ``Taps'' on the trumpet
for military funerals.
``Uncle Albert (George) and daddy (Edward Sr.) would never
let me go off to where Tommy was if he was to play ``Taps''
because they knew we would get in trouble,'' Edward said. ``I
would get Tommy tickled so he couldn't play.''
Johanna, Tommy's sister, recalled how many of the family
members, in addition to her brother, were involved in helping
out at the funeral home.
Some drove cars and transported flowers to churches and
then to cemeteries.
They also pitched in to perform other tasks.
``There are not too many businesses in Aiken County--and
maybe in this state--that have been run continuously for 100
years,'' Johanna said. ``That is something to be proud of.''
Cody Anderson is George Funeral Home's current owner. He
purchased the business in 2018 from the Foundation Partners
Group LLC of Orlando, Florida.
``We appreciate what Cody is doing so very much,'' Edward
said. ``George Funeral Home has meant a lot to us over the
years, and we are very appreciative that he has continued the
compassionate service and the tradition of George Funeral
Home, We also appreciate him keeping the George name on the
funeral home.''
Anderson considers himself the caretaker of the George
family's traditions even though he is not a relative.
``When I bought the funeral home, it wasn't about me,''
Anderson said, ``It was about continuing the legacy that was
established in 1920. My goal has been to honor that
tremendous legacy,''
The Centennial Celebration included a program that was held
in George Funeral Home's chapel instead of outdoors because
of rain.
It included talks by D.M. George's descendants about the
history of the business, and there also were presentations of
resolutions from the South Carolina House and Senate along
with a proclamation from Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon's office.
U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., spoke briefly, praising the
``thoughtful and compassionate'' Anderson and his staff for
keeping George Funeral Home's legacy of service alive.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster was unable to attend the
Centennial Celebration, but he sent a proclamation declaring
that Tuesday was George Funeral Home 100th Anniversary Day in
the Palmetto State.
Anderson discussed the funeral home's future near the end
of the program, which was followed by a reception. He
revealed a plan to renovate the chapel, a project that is
tentatively scheduled to begin in mid-2021.
``Robert Rich Associates, the architectural firm that redid
Joye Cottage, another historical Aiken Winter Colony home,
has been selected to blend the chapel interior more
architecturally to the original house to complement it,''
Anderson said.
The program was followed by a reception.
George Funeral Home is at 211 Park Ave. S.W. The former
Winter Colony home that was known as ``Deodara'' has been the
location of the business since 1948.
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