About Us
Waters-Powell Funeral Home, founded in 1893, has a history almost as long as that of the city of Florence. In July, 1893, Washington Marion Waters Sr. (1861 - 1939) opened a furniture store in the 100 block of South Dargan Street, which included the operation of the city's first funeral home. In 1932, the furniture store operation was separated from the funeral home. Waters Funeral Home was moved to a residence at the corner of Pine and Dargan Streets and remodeled for use as a funeral home and featured, as an innovation, a convertible chapel with removable partitions so that it could be enlarged.
With the death of W. M. Waters Sr., the business was conducted by his sons, Joe Payne Waters (1904 - 52) and Cyril A. Waters (1896 - 1967). Joe Waters assumed the managership of the funeral home in 1936. Upon the death of Joe P. Waters, his son, Joe Payne Waters Jr. (1928 - 2008) took over his interest in the operation of the business in conjunction with Cyril Waters.
After the death of Cyril Waters, his nephew, Joe P. Waters, Jr., operated the business until 1982, when Charles W. Powell, Sr., purchased the funeral home. The name was formally changed to Waters-Powell Funeral Home in 1988.
In 1959, Charles W. Powell, a student at USC at Florence, began working at the funeral home as an intern and ambulance driver. In 1968, he graduated from the Kentucky School of Mortuary Science and began to work full time as a funeral director and embalmer. In 1982, he and his wife, Frances Thompson Powell, purchased the funeral home from the Waters family and he still serves today as the president.
Chuck Powell began working with his father in 1982 and graduated from mortuary school in 1987. He now serves as manager, as well as funeral director and embalmer.
Charles' daughter, Stacey, has been working in the family business since 1992. She received her funeral director's license in 1998 and currently serves on the staff as a funeral director and office manager.
Added together, the Powell family has approximately 106 years of experience in the funeral business.
As Florence's oldest locally-owned, and family-owned, funeral home, our family is committed to continuing the rich history of funeral service to the Florence community. We proudly support the Florence community as funeral providers, friends, and neighbors.
It was the history of family service that brought our company philosophy:
"Our family serving your family."
We carry out this business philosophy by treating people with dignity and compassion during their time of grief, as well as striving to provide a superior service.
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