Family business roots strong for 55 years

For 55 years members of the Sisco and Spivey families have been ministering to their neighbors through Sisco Funeral Home.

Recently, the chapel and foyer were remodeled under the direction of Jeff Spivey, who is hosting an open house to share the new design with the public. The open house is set for Monday, Oct. 27.

"We've remodeled," Spivey said, explaining that the chapel area was gutted and new paint, carpet and chairs were added. "We've modernized and added video capabilities."

There are two monitors for both family and guests to view videos. One bathroom was remodeled to be handicap accessible.

"We found 1919 newspapers on the wall," Jeff said of a discovery made while remodeling. He said he has been told the house was used as a boarding house in the 1920s.

Jeff's maternal grandparents, Billy and Virginia Sisco bought Miller Funeral Home in 1959. The name was changed to Miller-Sisco Funeral Home and later to Sisco Funeral Home.

In 1971, Jeff's father, Sammy Spivey came to work for his in-laws. Jeff's mother, Janet, was a stay-at-home mom to him and his three younger siblings (two boys and a girl). "They bought it in 1987 and he died in 1989," Jeff said, recalling his father's tragic death in a boating accident. Jeff was 14 at the time.

"Those were hard years," he recalls. "She (speaking of his mother) lost her mom in '87, her husband in '89 and her dad in '91."

He credits her with saving the family business.

"She basically saved the business," he said. "She got her funeral director's license. If it hadn't been for her, we would have lost the business."

Jim Bounds, who had worked with Sammy as a funeral director and embalmer, helped Janet in the early years.

Janet humbly deflected any praise crediting her friends -- Sandy Easley Button, Jackie Crabtree, Mary Rogers Durand and Jamea Harp as well as other friends from First Baptist Church -- with helping her cope through those years. She said Bobby Rollins "helped us out a bunch. He stepped up and took care of the embalming."

"For two or three years, everybody pitched in and helped," Janet said, adding that she was often called to return home, across the street from the business, to tend to family issues with her three sons and her daughter.

"This is family run. People rely on you so strongly. I had a personal conviction to be here for them," she said of her customers, who are her neighbors and friends. "You have to put your own well-being on the back burner to take care of them. That is the essence of a family funeral home."

And so, the family business continues with Jeff, the third generation, who joined the firm as a licensed funeral director in 1992. Raymond Addison is the embalmer.

Geri Chestnut assists with pre-needs.