ABOUT US

About Us

In 1888, W. A. Murray gave up the profession of school teaching and came to the small sawmill town of Ashburn. His business ventures included grocery, hardware, and dry goods stores. He also owned a barber shop, livery stable, café, farm, and Ashburn's first funeral home.

Initially, the funeral home sold only caskets and gave very little in the way of professional services and no embalming was offered. About 1890, Mr. Murray purchased a horse drawn hearse for the funeral home and began to offer services to the families of Ashburn and Turner County.

In 1901, Mr. Murray employed his brother-in-law, Clyde Z. Harden, to work in the dry goods store and manage the funeral home. In 1908, Mr. Harden attended Southern Embalming College in Augusta. Upon graduation, he earned his embalmer's license, making him one of the youngest and first licensed embalmers in the state of Georgia. He returned to Ashburn to work at the funeral home and purchased it from Mr. Murray in the 1930’s.

Mr. Harden served in the Georgia State Legislature from 1930-1950 and served as President of the Georgia Funeral Directors Association in 1935.

In 1932, Mr. Harden's nephew, Charles V. Perry began assisting with embalming and funerals and managed the funeral home for Mr. Harden during his absences while serving in the Georgia Legislature.

Mr. Perry attended the John A. Gupton College of Mortuary Science, graduating in 1938 and earned his state license in 1939.

In 1951, Harden Funeral Home moved into a beautiful new building at 301 McLendon St. that was designed to serve as a funeral home. Mr. Harden lived to enjoy this new building until his death in 1953.

In 1955, Charles V. Perry was one of the founders and served as the 2nd Vice President of the Academy of Graduate Embalmers of Georgia. Mr. Perry's sons, Charles B. Perry served as President of the Academy from 1979-80 and Edgar F. Perry served as President from 1996-97.

In 1957, Charles V. Perry purchased the funeral home from Mr. Harden's widow and the name was changed to the Charles V. Perry Funeral Chapel.

In 1964, Mr. Perry's oldest son, Charles B. Perry, following his graduation from the University of Minnesota and receiving his embalmer's and funeral director's license, joined his father as a full-time employee. In 1967, Mr. Perry's middle son, H. Paul Perry joined the staff as a licensed funeral director upon his graduation from Southern Business College.

In 1971, Charles V. Perry, Charles B. Perry and H. Paul Perry incorporated Perry Funeral Chapel.

In 1977, Mr. Perry's youngest son, Edgar F. Perry joined the staff of Perry Funeral Chapel, Inc., later attending Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science and receiving his embalmer's and funeral director's license.

Charles V. Perry died in 1988, 100 years after the founding of the funeral home now known as Perry Funeral Chapel, Inc.

Charles B., H. Paul, and Edgar F. Perry were all actively involved in numerous funeral service organizations, political, church, & community activities and were always dedicated to improving the quality of life in Ashburn, Turner County, and all of southwest Georgia.

Jim Lumpkin joined the staff in September of 2008 as a funeral attendant and later became deputy coroner for Edgar Perry. It was after the loss of Charles and Paul in July 2013 and May 2014, that David Mathis joined the staff. Later that year Edgar Perry assumed full ownership of Perry Funeral Chapel, Inc.

After the unexpected death of Edgar in May 2021, his wife, Darlene, assumed ownership of Perry Funeral Chapel, Inc.

David and Suzi Mathis purchased Perry Funeral Chapel, Inc. in June 2022, with the intention of continuing the legacy the Perry family has built for over 120 years in Turner County.

What is now known as Perry Funeral Chapel, Inc. is one of the oldest family owned and operated businesses in Turner County. We are proud of our history and proud to serve our community with dignity and respect.