[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 125 (Monday, July 13, 2020)]
[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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