Shackelford Funeral Directors Acquired by Park Lawn Corporation

Shackelford Funeral Directors took a step towards preserving its 90-plus-year legacy of service to the Hardeman County community with its acquisition by the Park Lawn Corporation (PLC) that has U.S. headquarters in Houston, Texas.

“We chose a company that was very strong financially and led by people we can trust,” said Jeff Shackelford, manager of Shackelford Funeral Directors. “Our family has spent years carefully considering our succession plans and selecting the right successor for the Shackelford brand.”

Shackelford Funeral Directors first began serving families in Savannah, Tennessee in October of 1926 when Robert Earnest and Laura Paisley Shackelford opened the doors of the first funeral home in Hardin County, Tennessee. The Shackelford’s only son, Robert Paisley, and his wife, Kathryne, opened a location in Bolivar in 1932 and eventually moved that location in 1964 to its current site at 109 Mecklinburg Drive. Since that time, the business has grown into Henderson, Selmer, and Wayne County to include eight stand-alone funeral homes, two stand-alone cemeteries, and one on-site funeral home and cemetery located in Savannah. Park Lawn Corporation comes from family businesses just like Shackelford Funeral Directors. All Shackelford family members will continue to be involved in the businesses and have a financial interest in ensuring the businesses’ success.

“Park Lawn Corporation is a financially stable, Houston-based organization, whose management team has decades of hands-on experience in our profession,” said Shackelford. “they are truly the best partner to help us maintain the continuity of the Shackelford brand and almost 100 years of heritage. This decision will ensure we can continue our mission of providing families with dedicated and sincere service.”

The acquisition allows the Shackelford’s to continue offering the same services for which they are known as well as now being able to deliver more focused care, new services, and products to local families.

For those who are concerned about an outside company coming in and making changes, Shackelford assures the community, “We are not going anywhere! All of the employees you have always seen at the funeral home every day, will still be there serving their family, friends, and community. We have no reason to believe that will change.”

If you have already made pre-need arrangements with Shackelford Funeral Directors, Shackelford wants people to be assured those are safe and will be honored by Park Lawn Corporation.

“There is no need to worry, and you do not have to do anything differently to make sure the funeral home and cemetery honor your pre-need,” said Shackelford. “Any funeral or cemetery pre-arrangements and cemetery investments in place will remain the same because most are insurance-funded and will not be moved. Those that are trusted are invested and regulated by the State of Tennessee and overseen by a trustee with legal and fiduciary responsibilities.”

Because of its long-term operational goals, Shackelford sees the transition as a “good thing” for the families Shackelford Funeral Directors serves, its employees, and the community.

“Since 1926, Shackelford Funeral Directors has been here to serve when needed,” said Shackleford. “We look forward to being able to continue this tradition for the next 96 years and beyond.”

The transaction is anticipated to close in early September 2022 following the receipt of regulatory approval.

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