GOING BACK IN TIME

Our History

A man and a woman are sitting in chairs in a living room.

Brooks Lyon

Brooks & White Funeral Home was founded prior to 1914 in Hurdle Mills, NC by George D. Brooks and Cyrus Clifton White. They ran a blacksmith shop, woodworking shop, country store and garage. Brooks Funeral Home, was opened in Semora, NC during the late 1920's by George D. Brooks, his wife Mollie, and their daughter Merle. Merle was one of the first females to become a licensed funeral director in the states of Virginia and North Carolina.



The business was moved to the current location at the corner of Main Street and Seymour Drive in South Boston, Virginia in 1935. After the death of Mr. Brooks, Merle and her husband, F. E. “Tom” Jones, operated the funeral home until Tom’s death in 1980. At that time, their son, Douglas Brooks Jones and his wife, Betty, took over management of the funeral home. In 2000, Doug and Betty’s daughter, Kathy, a graduate of John Tyler Community College with a degree in funeral service, assumed ownership of the funeral home.

May 2, 2014 the firm was acquired by Michael and Jane Lyon and the name was changed to Brooks Lyon Funeral Home. Betty Jones, remained a part of the funeral home staff. A funeral director since 1977, Michael is licensed in both Virginia and North Carolina. Jane, his wife is a Duke University Divinity School graduate and leads a non profit Whole Woman Conference ( click here ). She is an ordained minister, gifted speaker and leads Christian Women Conferences. After graduating from Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science, Michael worked with Howerton Bryan Funeral Home in Durham, NC - a firm founded by Halifax County, Virginia native, R.T. Howerton, Sr in 1874. Michael's entrance into Halifax County as death care provider completes a circle. A Funeral Director formed and trained in a Durham, NC firm founded by a Halifax County Virginian, comes to Halifax County to provide service to descendants of RT Howerton. The Lyon's ownership includes Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home ( Click here ), Lancaster Funeral & Cremation Services and Cremation Society of Virginia (click here).



However, throughout the history of Brooks Lyon funeral Home and it’s four generations of family ownership there is one thing that has remained the same, and that is putting the needs and desires of the bereaved families first. This tradition continues to be the goal of the staff of Brooks Lyon Funeral Home.

A large brick house with a brick walkway leading to it

Watkins Cooper

Watkins-Cooper-Lyon Funeral Home's history spans over 170 years and is uniquely intertwined with Randolph Macon College and Clarksville Presbyterian Church. In 1833 a Master cabinetmaker and German immigrant, Frank I. Liipfert was hired to help build the campus of Randolph Macon College. After the Civil War Randolph Macon was relocated, but Mr. Liipfert remained in Mecklenburg County as a cabinet maker and coffin builder.



It was from that humble beginning that Watkins-Cooper-Lyon Funeral Home began. In 1953 Jack Watkins and Jim Cooper relocated the facility to the Clarksville Presbyterian Manse. Jim Cooper was an Elder of the church that year and was among the first to know of the pending sale. He and Mr. Watkins acted quickly to purchase the current location. Jim Cooper's share of the company was later sold to Jack Ligon, who served as General Manager for many years.

In 1986, Michael R. Lyon and his wife Jane moved from Durham, NC and became the owners of Watkins-Cooper Funeral Home and added their name to the business. With the help of Jack & Hilda Ligon, a new era began. Renovations, procurement of new equipment and the latest technology, combined with a "WE CARE" policy created a unique company. A business known in the 1800's for undertaking and furniture today is best identified as progressive, growing, and caring. Serving not only Virginia, but also North Carolina with distinction.