NEWS RELEASE Media Contact: Graham Wilson
For Immediate Release PRStreet, 919.467.5567 or gwilson@prstreet.com
Two of Raleigh’s Oldest Funeral Businesses
Now Operate As One Company
Brown-Wynne Funeral
Homes and Mitchell Funeral Home merge after over a century of Raleigh history
(Raleigh, NC) – April 24, 2007— Raleigh’s two
oldest names in funeral service have joined together and will soon operate
under the same ownership. Effective May 1, Mitchell Funeral Home in downtown
Raleigh will begin operating as part of the Brown-Wynne Funeral Home
family. While it’s often hard to count
on businesses to offer the same level of service tomorrow as they did five
years ago, this move will actually mean better services for families across
Raleigh and Wake County. Both
businesses opened in the mid 1800’s and have offered families a high level of
service for more than a century. Brown-Wynne is North Carolina’s oldest funeral home, and the
oldest continuous business in Raleigh. The merger is the result of Brown-Wynne’s parent company, Service
Corporation International, acquiring of Mitchell’s parent company, Alderwoods
Group, Inc., in November. As a result of the merger, Mitchell Funeral Home is
now in the process of becoming part of the Dignity Memorial® network
of funeral, cremation and cemetery service providers, of which Brown-Wynne is a
member.
“With Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park joining
Brown-Wynne Funeral Homes, the tradition of excellence both businesses are
known for will truly benefit the families of Raleigh,” said Ronald Maness,
general manager of Brown-Wynne Funeral Homes and Crematory. “We are committed
to the great histories and reputation of our company and this addition will
allow us to serve families with an even greater purpose.”
In addition to the tradition of
dependability and high service, families will have the convenience of receiving
the same compassionate care at any of the already established Brown-Wynne locations
or Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park - 7209 Glenwood Avenue. The existing
Mitchell Funeral Home at 600 St. Mary’s
Street will close and operations will move a few blocks down to join the
Brown-Wynne Funeral Home location at 300 St. Mary’s Street. The staff and
employees of Mitchell will now be serving the Glenwood Avenue location.
“The merging of the Brown-Wynne and
Mitchell Funeral Homes allows the deep histories of our two companies in the
Raleigh community to further add to the strength of funeral services we provide
to our valued families,” said Amy-Jo Barr, location manager for Mitchell
Funeral Home. “With Mitchell Funeral Home at Raleigh Memorial Park now joining with
Brown-Wynne Funeral Homes, we will be able to provide additional services that
will greatly assist families through the bereavement process.”
“Now families
will be able to use any of Brown-Wynne Funeral Home or Mitchell Funeral Home
locations and receive the same level of care and compassion,” said James Baron,
market manager for the Raleigh/Greensboro Dignity Memorial Providers. “Since Brown-Wynne
Funeral Homes are already part of our network and Mitchell is joining the
network soon, area families will be able to receive expanded services. We offer
transferability of prearranged funeral plans to any other funeral home in the
Dignity Memorial North American network for families who must relocate. We also
provide a Bereavement Travel Program that helps families find the best
available travel options, often with significant savings, on airfare, lodging
and car rentals throughout most of the United States and Canada, as well as
certain other international destinations. The program helps family members make
travel arrangements through the assistance of dedicated travel agents. Families
should call Brown-Wynne Funeral Homes for specific details and benefits.”
About
Brown-Wynne Funeral Home
The H. J. Brown Coffin House was founded
in Raleigh in 1836 by H. J. Brown. Five generations have left nothing undone to
make Brown-Wynne Funeral Home one of the most complete mortuary establishments
in the South. Brown-Wynne Funeral Home is North Carolina's oldest funeral
provider, as well as the oldest continuous business in Raleigh. Founded in
1836, it dates back to when Andrew Jackson was President of the United States.
Brown-Wynne has grown along with Raleigh and its surrounding cities. The
original building site was at the corner of Dawson and Morgan Streets. The home
moved to the corner of Hargett and Salisbury in 1889, then in 1928 moved again
to Hillsborough Street. In 1954, Robert W. Wynne, Jr. built a new home on the
corner of St. Mary's and North Street. He also had the foresight to expand to
Cary, in 1969, and the Millbrook community, in 1973. In 1991, Brown-Wynne
proudly became part of Dignity Network, the largest network of funeral care
providers in North America.
About
Mitchell Funeral Home
With its beginning on the corner of
Morgan and Wilmington Streets, Mitchell Funeral Home is the successor to
several funeral establishments in the Raleigh-Wake County area. In 1874,
Erasmus D. Haynes, carpenter and cabinet maker, opened his business in downtown
Raleigh. In 1890 Mr. Haynes merged his business with Lorenzo C. Bagwell. Mr.
Bagwell operated the business until 1894 when he sold his undertaking business
to a Raleigh city policeman named George A. Strickland. The final name change
occurred in 1923 when the major stockholders in Mr. Strickland’s company moved
the business to a home on West Hargett Street and employed Joseph H. Mitchell
as the firm’s funeral director and embalmer. With the continued growth and
change of ownership, a larger building was needed and Mitchell Funeral Home was
moved to St. Mary’s Street in February 1953. Mitchell Funeral Home today is
operated by local funeral directors and staff with over 125 years of experience
and caring in the funeral industry.
Media Contact:
Graham Wilson
PRStreet,
919.467.5567 or