The funeral business was always in Billy Harwell’s blood, but it wasn’t always part of his career path.
J.C. Harwell & Son Funeral Home, now in Covington, was established in Pennington by Harwell’s great-grandfather in 1893. After graduating from high school in Newton County Harwell went to Auburn University and earned a business degree. After college he joined the Navy and in 1966, after his discharge, went to work in the Midwest.
In 1973, Harwell returned to Covington and worked alongside his father and brother in the family funeral business. He graduated from the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in 1975 and he worked in the family funeral home – eventually running it after his father retired – until his retirement in 2003.
“Billy had a strong commitment to the community and to the family business,” said Tommy Davis, who owns the funeral home now. “When I bought it, I immediately changed the name back to J.C. Harwell & Son because of the history and heritage that is connected to this funeral home.”
William C. Harwell, called Billy by most, died Friday Riverside Health Care Centre of complications from Lewy Body dementia. He was 74.
A funeral was held Sunday at the funeral home his great-grandfather started, followed by burial at Covington City Cemetery.
When Harwell left Covington after high school, he hadn’t planned to go back home, said his brother Jack Harwell. His parents wanted him to come back for years and finally, in the early ‘70s, he decided he was ready, said his wife of nearly 50 years, Jean Harwell.
The funeral business was second nature to Billy Harwell, his brother said.
“Just anybody can’t be in this business,” Jack Harwell said. “But he grew up in this, and he knew exactly what to do.”
William C. “Bill” Harwell Jr. said watching his father talk to recently bereaved families was a life lesson he’ll never forget.
“He taught me how to be patient and gentle with people,” Bill Harwell said, of his father. “He could really put people at ease.”
When Billy Harwell retired in 2003 it wasn’t so much that he had to, but one of his golf buddies made him an offer to buy the funeral home he decided not to refuse, his wife said. When the business sold, the new owner changed the funeral home’s name, but the Harwells got a big surprise when Davis bought the place in 2011.
“I changed the name back,” he said. “I felt it was the right thing to do.”
Davis said during the brief period he worked with the Harwell family, he saw the dedication and respect Billy Harwell had for the family business.
“As a young funeral director I looked up to him,” Davis said. “He had just the right touch to be in this business.”
In addition to his wife, son and brother, Harwell is survived by a daughter, Tracy Harwell Cross of Smyrna; and four grandchildren.
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